Revealing metallic ink in Herculaneum papyri

A groundbreaking analysis of Herculaneum papyri reveals that metallic ink, specifically containing lead, was used centuries earlier than previously believed. This discovery challenges long-held assumptions about ancient writing materials and provides new insights into the manufacturing and use of papyri in Greco-Roman societies. Researchers employed advanced imaging techniques to detect metallic concentrations within the papyrus fragments, offering crucial data for optimizing future computed tomography (CT) scans on unrolled Herculaneum scrolls. The findings also suggest the possible existence of ruled lines on the papyrus texture, further enriching our understanding of ancient writing practices.

Brun, E., Cotte, M., Wright, J., Ruat, M., Tack, P., Vincze, L., Ferrero, C., Delattre, D., & Mocella, V. (2016). Revealing metallic ink in Herculaneum papyri. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(14), 3751–3754. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1519958113