Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41062592›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2025

Pulsed thermographic analysis of Herculaneum papyri.

Sofia Ceccarelli, Massimo Rippa, Giovanni Caruso, Loredana Luvidi, Simona Boccuti, Melania Paturzo, Vito Pagliarulo, Kilian Fleischer, Costanza Miliani, Graziano Ranocchia

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Sofia Ceccarelli *Institute of Heritage Science (CNR-ISPC), National Council of Research, Naples, Italy.
Massimo Rippa *Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems 'E. Caianiello' (CNR-ISASI), National Council of Research, Pozzuoli, Italy.
Giovanni CarusoInstitute of Heritage Science (CNR-ISPC), National Council of Research, Naples, Italy.
Loredana LuvidiInstitute of Heritage Science (CNR-ISPC), National Council of Research, Naples, Italy.
Simona BoccutiInstitute of Heritage Science (CNR-ISPC), National Council of Research, Naples, Italy.
Melania PaturzoInstitute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems 'E. Caianiello' (CNR-ISASI), National Council of Research, Pozzuoli, Italy.
Vito PagliaruloInstitute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems 'E. Caianiello' (CNR-ISASI), National Council of Research, Pozzuoli, Italy.
Kilian FleischerInstitute of Classical Philology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Costanza MilianiInstitute of Heritage Science (CNR-ISPC), National Council of Research, Naples, Italy. costanza.miliani@cnr.it.
Graziano RanocchiaInstitute of Heritage Science (CNR-ISPC), National Council of Research, Naples, Italy. graziano.ranocchia@unipi.it.

Funding

European Research Council ERC Advanced Grant 885222-GreekSchoolsMinistero dell'Università e della Ricerca MUR FOE for the Italian node of E-RIHS
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The Herculaneum papyri represent an exceptional cultural treasure, providing invaluable insights into the philosophical, literary and historical landscape of the Greco-Roman world. However, their carbonization due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD poses significant challenges for both textual legibility and structural analysis. This study illustrates the first application of Pulsed Thermography to the non-destructive analysis of these unique manuscripts. By employing an experimental setup comprising a couple of flashes providing the excitation and a thermal camera for recording the infrared emission from the sample, the technique proves to be an important tool for textual recovery, revealing writing almost not discernible to the naked eye. Furthermore, Pulsed Thermography provides structural information useful for restorers, such as the papyrus texture and adhesion points to paperboard, offering a valuable advantage over other imaging techniques. The results show the potential of the adopted method not only as a powerful tool for textual recovery but also for guiding conservation strategies ensuring a deeper understanding of Herculaneum papyri.

Identifiers

PMID41062592
PMCPMC12508051

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.