It’s a powerful image. A terrified man shown fleeing the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius with a terracotta bowl protecting his head from the flying pumice and volcanic ash.
For the first time ever, the Archaeological Park of Pompeii has used artificial intelligence to recreate the final minutes of one of the men killed in the 79 A.D. eruption which destroyed the city in 24 hours.
Working with the University of Padua’s Digital Cultural Heritage Laboratory, experts have created a digital reconstruction based on data from surveys conducted by archaeologists from the Italian ministry of culture.
“The sheer volume of archaeological data in Pompeii and beyond is now so vast that only with the help of artificial intelligence will we be able to properly preserve and showcase it,” said park director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel.
“When used well, AI can contribute to a revival of classical studies … and these reconstructions help us engage more people in this adventure.”
Pliny the Younger, an eyewitness to the eruption, recounted how people fleeing the volcano tried to protect themselves from the pumice and ash with cushions tied to their heads.
In this case, the victim’s remains were discovered during recent excavations in the area of the Porta Stabia necropolis, just outside the walls of ancient Pompeii. We don’t know anything more about the man apart from the terracotta bowl found beside his skeleton which showed clear signs of fracture.
He was also carrying a ceramic oil lamp to help him find his way in the poor light as the skies darkened with the explosion of ash. The man wore an iron ring on one figure and carried 10 bronze coins.
The digital model was generated using a combination of artificial intelligence software and photo-editing techniques, with the aim of producing an image that is scientifically accurate. The reconstruction is a prototype, designed to make the results of archaeological research more accessible to a broader audience.
Professor Luciano Floridi, founding director del Digital Ethics Center a Yale University, said: “AI does not replace the archaeologist. Under the archaeologist’s control, it expands and deepens their potential, and it makes accessible to many, what was once readable only by a few.”
Italy’s minister of culture, Alessandro Giuli, said it was exciting to see how every new discovery sheds new light on ancient life.
“The investigations conducted through these excavations demonstrate that innovative methodologies, when applied rigorously, can offer us new historical perspectives,” he said.
