An ancient Herculaneum scroll, buried and carbonised in the deadly eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, is displayed in Paris, France, in this undated handout photo. Courtesy of the Digital Restoration Initiative/University of Kentucky/Handout via REUTERS. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.
LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists at Britain's national synchrotron facility have harnessed powerful light beams to virtually unwrap and decipher fragile scrolls dating back some 2,000 years in a process they hope will provide new insights into the ancient world.
The two complete scrolls and four fragments - from the so-called Herculaneum library, the only one surviving from antiquity - were buried and carbonized by the deadly eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD and are too fragile to be opened.
Win a prize this Mother's Day by subscribing to our annual plan now! T&C applies.
