Stories with Tag Herculaneum

• Man's brain turned to glass by hot Vesuvius ash cloud

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  Posted: 2025-02-27 17:32:01

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  Analysis of a victim's remains from Herculaneum, a town destroyed by the Vesuvius eruption in 79 AD, revealed that the extreme heat of the pyroclastic flow vitrified the victim's brain tissue, turning it into a glassy substance. This is the first time this phenomenon has been observed in archaeological remains. The victim, believed to be a man in his 20s, was found lying face down on a wooden bed, likely killed instantly by the intense heat. The glassy material found in his skull, analyzed to be mostly fatty acids and human brain proteins, provides unique insight into the extreme temperatures reached during the eruption and their effects on human tissue.

  In a macabre yet scientifically fascinating discovery, researchers studying the remnants of the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD have unearthed evidence of an unprecedented phenomenon: vitrification of brain tissue. The eruption, infamous for burying the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum under volcanic ash and pyroclastic flows, claimed thousands of lives. This latest finding, originating from the archaeological site of Herculaneum and detailed in the New England Journal of Medicine, focuses on the remains of a young man, believed to be in his mid-twenties, discovered in the 1960s within the Collegium Augustalium, a building dedicated to the imperial cult.

  While previous studies have identified skeletal remains and even partially preserved soft tissues at Herculaneum, this particular case presents a truly exceptional occurrence. The intense heat generated by the pyroclastic surge, a rapidly moving current of hot gas and volcanic debris, is postulated to have caused the victim's brain tissue to undergo vitrification, a process where organic material is transformed into a glassy substance. This process, akin to the formation of obsidian from molten rock, is exceptionally rare in archaeological contexts. The presence of glassy material within the victim's skull, identified through microscopic analysis and confirmed to contain proteins and fatty acids characteristic of brain tissue, provides compelling evidence for this extraordinary transformation.

  The researchers hypothesize that the extreme heat, estimated to have reached temperatures as high as 520 degrees Celsius, rapidly vaporized the victim's bodily fluids, creating an oxygen-deprived environment within the skull. This anoxic environment, combined with the intense heat, facilitated the vitrification process, essentially preserving the brain tissue in a glassy state for centuries. The preservation of such delicate organic material within the context of such a violent and destructive event provides invaluable insights into the extreme conditions experienced by the inhabitants of Herculaneum during the eruption and highlights the unique preservational properties of pyroclastic flows. Furthermore, the discovery sheds light on the destructive power of volcanic eruptions and contributes significantly to our understanding of the taphonomic processes involved in the preservation of human remains in such catastrophic events. This unprecedented find underscores the continuing potential for archaeological discoveries to enhance our comprehension of the past, even in sites that have been extensively studied for centuries.

  • archaeology
  • Volcano
  • Vesuvius
  • Pompeii
  • Herculaneum
  • Ancient Rome
  • Roman Empire
  • History
  • Science
  • Vitrification
  • Human Remains
  • Disaster
  • Natural Disaster
  • 79 AD
  • Italy

  Summary of Comments ( 63 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43196488

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN commenters discuss the plausibility of the victim's brain vitrifying, with several expressing skepticism due to the required temperatures and rapid cooling. Some point out that other organic materials like wood don't typically vitrify in these circumstances, and question the lack of similar findings in other Vesuvius victims. One commenter with experience in glass production notes the differences between natural glass formation (like obsidian) and the creation of glass from organic matter. Others discuss the ethics of displaying human remains and the potential for further research to confirm or refute the vitrification claim. Some commenters also highlight the gruesome yet fascinating nature of the discovery and the unique glimpse it provides into the destruction of Pompeii.

  The Hacker News post "Man's brain turned to glass by hot Vesuvius ash cloud" has several comments discussing the BBC article about the discovery.

  Many commenters focus on the fascinating and gruesome nature of vitrification, the process by which the victim's brain tissue was turned into a glassy substance. Several express astonishment at the intense heat and rapid process required for such a transformation to occur, pondering the agonizing final moments the victim must have experienced. Some question the specific mechanisms involved and debate whether the vitrification was caused by direct exposure to heat or some other process related to the pyroclastic flow.

  Some commenters delve deeper into the scientific aspects of the discovery. They discuss the implications for understanding the eruption of Vesuvius and the conditions that existed in Herculaneum at the time. They also discuss the significance of the discovery in the context of archaeological research and the preservation of ancient remains. Several share links to additional resources and scientific papers that provide more detailed information on vitrification and the eruption of Vesuvius.

  A few commenters express a morbid fascination with the details, while others approach the topic with a sense of reverence and respect for the victim and the historical context. Some discuss the ethical implications of studying such remains and the importance of handling them with sensitivity.

  A thread develops around the differences between the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum, with commenters highlighting how the pyroclastic flows affected Herculaneum differently and contributed to the unique preservation of organic materials, including this victim's brain.

  There's also some discussion about the challenges of accurately reconstructing historical events based on limited archaeological evidence. Commenters acknowledge the difficulty of definitively determining the exact sequence of events and the conditions that led to the victim's death.

  Overall, the comments reflect a mix of awe, scientific curiosity, and respectful reflection on a remarkable archaeological discovery. The commenters engage in informed discussion, share relevant information, and express a range of perspectives on the implications of the findings.

• First glimpse inside burnt scroll after 2k years

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  Posted: 2025-02-05 17:12:50

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  Scientists have used advanced imaging techniques, including X-ray micro-CT scanning, to virtually unwrap and decipher text from a charred scroll discovered in Herculaneum, buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius nearly 2,000 years ago. The scroll, too fragile to physically unroll, is believed to contain philosophical writings by Philodemus, an Epicurean philosopher. While the process is still in its early stages, researchers have successfully deciphered some Greek letters and words, offering hope for further deciphering the text and gaining valuable insights into ancient philosophy.

  After nearly two millennia entombed within the charred remains of a scroll from Herculaneum, a Roman town devastated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, researchers have provided the first tantalizing glimpse into the text contained within, utilizing advanced imaging techniques. This papyrus scroll, part of the only surviving library of its kind from the classical world, belonging to the villa of Julius Caesar's father-in-law, Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, has long been considered too fragile to unroll physically due to the intense heat of the volcanic eruption that carbonized it. Previous attempts at unfurling these scrolls often resulted in their disintegration.

  Now, a team of scientists, employing a cutting-edge method known as X-ray phase-contrast tomography, has successfully deciphered several letters and even entire words from within the scroll without having to physically open it. This technique involves using powerful X-rays to create three-dimensional representations of the ink, which, despite being carbonized along with the papyrus, retains a slightly different density. By exploiting these subtle differences in density, researchers have been able to distinguish the ink from the papyrus itself, effectively "seeing" the writing inside.

  The deciphered text, primarily written in Greek, has revealed the presence of the names of Epicurean philosophers including Philodemus, whose works make up a significant portion of the Herculaneum library. While the specific content of the newly revealed text doesn't present groundbreaking philosophical insights, its decipherment marks a monumental achievement in the field of papyrology. It confirms the viability of this non-invasive imaging technique for accessing the vast storehouse of knowledge potentially held within the hundreds of still-unopened scrolls from Herculaneum. This breakthrough offers a renewed hope of unlocking the literary secrets hidden within these ancient texts, shedding further light on the intellectual landscape of the Roman world and offering invaluable insight into the thoughts and writings of a civilization lost to time. This development also paves the way for future research, with scientists continuously refining the technique to improve the clarity and readability of the extracted text, potentially revealing more complex and complete passages from the fragile scrolls. The potential for future discoveries remains immense, promising a wealth of knowledge yet to be unearthed from these Vesuvius-preserved relics.

  • archaeology
  • Ancient History
  • Herculaneum
  • Scroll
  • virtual unwrapping
  • Digital Imaging
  • Roman Empire
  • Volcano
  • Mount Vesuvius
  • papyrus
  • text analysis
  • Cultural Heritage
  • preservation

  Summary of Comments ( 55 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42951744

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN commenters discuss the challenges and potential rewards of virtually unwrapping the En-Gedi scroll. Several express excitement about the technology used and the historical significance of the text, hoping it reveals more of Leviticus. Some are skeptical about the readability given the scroll's condition, while others debate the ethics and practicality of physically unrolling such fragile artifacts. The potential for AI to assist in the process and reconstruct missing text fragments is also a topic of discussion, with some cautioning against overreliance on these methods. A few users share links to previous work on the scroll and other related projects.

  The Hacker News post "First glimpse inside burnt scroll after 2k years" has a moderate number of comments discussing the linked BBC article about virtually unwrapping a charred scroll from Herculaneum. Several commenters express excitement and fascination with the technology used and the potential for further discoveries.

  One compelling thread discusses the challenges and limitations of the current techniques. One user highlights the immense computational power required for this process, pointing out that even with cutting-edge technology, deciphering the entire scroll remains a daunting task. This leads to a discussion about the trade-offs between resolution and processing time, with someone mentioning that increasing resolution exponentially increases computational costs. Another commenter suggests alternative approaches, like using machine learning to analyze the subtle variations in the ink density to help with text reconstruction.

  Another line of discussion focuses on the historical context of the scroll. Some commenters express hope that the scrolls contain lost works of classical literature, with one specifically mentioning the desire to find lost plays by Sophocles. Others discuss the importance of preserving and studying these artifacts, not just for their literary value, but also for understanding the daily life and culture of the people who created them. One commenter remarks on the irony of the scrolls being both preserved and destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius.

  Several users also delve into the technical details of the imaging techniques used. One commenter knowledgeable in X-ray tomography clarifies the difference between conventional CT scanning and the phase-contrast imaging utilized in this study, emphasizing the latter's advantages for visualizing delicate structures like ink on papyrus. This explanation leads to further discussion on the limitations of current imaging technologies and the potential for future advancements to reveal even more details from the scrolls.

  A few comments express a touch of cynicism, questioning the likelihood of significant literary discoveries and suggesting that the scrolls might contain mundane or even disappointing content. However, the overall sentiment leans toward optimism and excitement about the potential of this technology to unlock the secrets held within these ancient artifacts. The comments reflect a mixture of scientific curiosity, historical interest, and appreciation for the ingenuity of the researchers involved in this project.