Metallic ink has been found on some fragments of papyrus scrolls carbonized in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Scientists now entertain the possibility that many of the 800 Herculaneum scrolls in the ancient library may be readable.
In 1752, an ancient library was discovered at Herculaneum, buried beneath the ashes of Mount Vesuvius. Astonishingly, nearly 2000 carbonized papyrus rolls were preserved, though some were so badly burned they looked like pieces of charcoal.
The Romans
PNAS
At left is a photo of a fragment of the incinerated papyrus. At right, lead is visible in the this X-ray fluorescence image.
