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Cretan Innovation Reveals Hidden Texts in Ancient Vesuvius Scrolls

Friday, 3 July 2026/SourceGoogle News/1 min read
Researchers at the Technical University of Crete have contributed to a major archaeological breakthrough: a specialized camera developed at the university successfully revealed texts from 2,000-year-old scrolls that were carbonized by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The scrolls, discovered at Herculaneum near Naples, were buried and charred when Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, making them impossible to read with conventional methods. The Cretan technology uses advanced imaging to detect ink traces on the fragile, blackened papyrus without physically unrolling it. This discovery highlights Crete's growing role in cutting-edge research and digital heritage preservation. While the scrolls themselves are housed in Italy, the achievement reflects the strength of Crete's academic institutions. Visitors interested in ancient history and technology can explore the Technical University of Crete's campus in Chania, located in the western part of the island.

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