# Can the sealed Herculaneum rolls be read in full, non-invasively, at the scale of the whole library? · Herculaneum Papyri and the Vesuvius Challenge > Four answers have been proposed. The 2026 pipeline (BM18 scanning at about 2.4 µm, semi-automatic surface tracing and learned ink detection)… leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/herculaneum-papyri/questions/QST0D367VG00XNS/can-the-sealed-herculaneum-rolls-be-read-in-full-non Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:36+00:00 --- **0** # Can the sealed Herculaneum rolls be read in full, non-invasively, at the scale of the whole library? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the 2026 pipeline (BM18 scanning at about 2.4 µm, semi-automatic surface tracing and learned ink detection)…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. The 2026 pipeline (BM18 scanning at about 2.4 µm, semi-automatic surface tracing and learned ink detection)… leads, with evidence 2 for, 2 against: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, one is answered. ## Why it matters The library's value depends on reading the hundreds of rolls that cannot be opened. One partial roll has now been read in full, but it was small and already reduced by earlier opening attempts, and the current prize still asks for one complete intact roll⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D367HFP2ZBK/complete-virtual-unwrapping-and-reading-of-a-rolled)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D367JEY30DV/vesuvius-challenge-prizes). ## Answers 4 [**The 2026 pipeline (BM18 scanning at about 2.4 µm, semi-automatic surface tracing and learned ink detection)…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/herculaneum-papyri/answers/ANS0D367WF82EJD/the-2026-pipeline-bm18-scanning-at-about-2-4-m-semi) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for, 2 against Most likely [**Full reading will remain limited to a few exceptional rolls; for most of the library only scattered words or…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/herculaneum-papyri/answers/ANS0D367YDR3AM8/full-reading-will-remain-limited-to-a-few-exceptional-rolls) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/herculaneum-papyri/answers/ANS0D367YXC6EJP/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The method will read rolls that are well preserved and carry favourable ink, but heavily compressed, fused or…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/herculaneum-papyri/answers/ANS0D367XPA1PNQ/the-method-will-read-rolls-that-are-well-preserved-and-carry) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 2 for Still possible ## History 1. 2016[Brun et al.: ink composition varies across the library; some inks contain lead, which changes X-ray contrast.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D367KE62XYM/revealing-metallic-ink-in-herculaneum-papyri)For: The method will read rolls that are well preserved and carry favourable ink, but heavily compressed, fused or… 1. 2023[Parsons et al.: fragment-trained ink models in 2023 reached only about 42 per cent character recall with about 18 per cent…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D367JYJ5C81/educelab-scrolls-verifiable-recovery-of-text-from)For: Full reading will remain limited to a few exceptional rolls; for most of the library only scattered words or… 1. 2026[Angelotti et al. puts forward: the 2026 pipeline (BM18 scanning at about 2.4 µm, semi-automatic surface tracing and learned ink detection)…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D367HFP2ZBK/complete-virtual-unwrapping-and-reading-of-a-rolled) 1. 2026[Angelotti et al.: pHerc. 1667 is only an 8 cm by 2 cm core, so its success says little about tracing a full 4 to 6 cm roll.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D367HFP2ZBK/complete-virtual-unwrapping-and-reading-of-a-rolled)Against: The 2026 pipeline (BM18 scanning at about 2.4 µm, semi-automatic surface tracing and learned ink detection)… 1. 2026[Vesuvius Challenge: the 2027 Grand Prize is offered for fully unrolling one scroll from a set of 13, which implies no complete…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D367JEY30DV/vesuvius-challenge-prizes)Against: The 2026 pipeline (BM18 scanning at about 2.4 µm, semi-automatic surface tracing and learned ink detection)… 1. 2026[Angelotti et al.: pHerc. 1667's preserved surface, about 860 square centimetres in 22 columns, was unwrapped and transcribed…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D367HFP2ZBK/complete-virtual-unwrapping-and-reading-of-a-rolled)For: The 2026 pipeline (BM18 scanning at about 2.4 µm, semi-automatic surface tracing and learned ink detection)… 1. 2026[Angelotti et al.: the 2026 paper names variation in ink recipe, contaminants, deposit shape and preservation as reasons the…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D367HFP2ZBK/complete-virtual-unwrapping-and-reading-of-a-rolled)For: The method will read rolls that are well preserved and carry favourable ink, but heavily compressed, fused or… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/herculaneum-papyri/questions/QST0D367VG00XNS/can-the-sealed-herculaneum-rolls-be-read-in-full-non%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/herculaneum-papyri/questions/QST0D367VG00XNS/can-the-sealed-herculaneum-rolls-be-read-in-full-non%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/herculaneum-papyri/questions/QST0D367VG00XNS/can-the-sealed-herculaneum-rolls-be-read-in-full-non%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/herculaneum-papyri/questions/QST0D367VG00XNS/can-the-sealed-herculaneum-rolls-be-read-in-full-non%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/herculaneum-papyri/questions/QST0D367VG00XNS/can-the-sealed-herculaneum-rolls-be-read-in-full-non%23add-source) Where it fits Herculaneum Papyri and the Vesuvius Challenge **Can the sealed Herculaneum rolls be read in full, non-invasively, at the scale of the whole library?** Key question · you're here [Are the machine-learning ink readings real ancient text rather than artefacts of the models?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/herculaneum-papyri/questions/QST0D367VQT7R26/are-the-machine-learning-ink-readings-real-ancient-text)Answered · The readings reflect real ink, as shown by independent imaging and independent readers. 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