Tracking ink composition on Herculaneum papyrus scrolls: quantification and speciation of lead by X-ray based techniques and Monte Carlo simulations

Researchers have uncovered that lead, present in the ink of Herculaneum papyrus scrolls, enhances the readability of text by increasing the X-ray fluorescence signal. This discovery, made using advanced X-ray phase-contrast tomography and multi-scale X-ray fluorescence micro-imaging, sheds light on the composition of ancient writing materials. The study employed Monte Carlo simulations and X-ray absorption microspectroscopy to quantify and speciate lead within the scrolls, aiming to determine its origin and validate hypotheses about its state in the ink. This non-invasive approach avoids the need for unrolling the delicate scrolls, preserving their integrity while revealing hidden texts from the pyroclastic events of Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Tack, P., Cotte, M., Bauters, S., Brun, E., Banerjee, D., Bras, W., Ferrero, C., Delattre, D., Mocella, V., & Vincze, L. (2016). Tracking ink composition on Herculaneum papyrus scrolls: quantification and speciation of lead by X-ray based techniques and Monte Carlo simulations. Scientific Reports, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep20763