Advancements in Deciphering Ancient Texts with AI
Throughout history, many historical records have been lost or damaged over time. Despite the development of advanced technology, interpreting ancient texts and inscriptions has often seemed impossible. However, with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), researchers are now uncovering and decoding these ancient writings more effectively than ever before. Recently, an AI system successfully deciphered a Latin inscription that had puzzled scholars for years. The findings were published in the journal Nature.
Understanding the Inscription and the AI Model
One of the most intriguing inscriptions is “Res Gestae Divi Augusti,” which translates to “Deeds of the Divine Augustus.” This inscription was originally carved onto bronze pillars in Rome and later replicated across the Roman Empire. Historians had long been interested in understanding its meaning. Using an AI system called Aeneas, researchers analyzed this autobiographical text. Compared to other Latin texts, the RGDA inscription showed subtle language similarities with Roman legal documents. These similarities reflect “imperial political discourse” or messages focused on maintaining imperial power, a discovery not previously noted by human historians.
The Evolution of AI in Historical Research
Aeneas is not the first AI model developed for historical research. Previously, Google DeepMind created Ithaca, an AI system designed to restore and categorize ancient Greek inscriptions. Aeneas, named after the Trojan legend and mythical ancestor of Rome, builds upon this work but focuses specifically on Latin texts. According to Yannis Assael, a computer scientist at Google DeepMind in London, this AI model represents a new way of modeling historical uncertainty, transforming how we study history.
How Aeneas Works
The Aeneas system uses a generative neural network to identify parallels between texts within a database of Latin inscriptions. This approach helps human experts interpret, attribute, and restore fragmentary Latin texts through textual and visual analysis. Thea Sommerschield, a historian at the University of Nottingham, explained that epigraphers and historians who study inscriptions can now achieve quicker and more accurate results using Aeneas. This AI tool assists in tasks such as determining the likely age and location of an inscription.
The Significance of Inscriptions
Inscriptions are among the earliest forms of writing and are invaluable to historians. They provide firsthand evidence of ancient thought, language, society, and history. By analyzing these inscriptions, researchers gain insights into the past that would otherwise be lost. The use of Aeneas allows historians to focus on connecting insights across the ancient world, rather than spending excessive time on labor-intensive analysis.
Insights from “Res Gestae Divi Augusti”
The “Res Gestae Divi Augusti” inscription shares similarities with other Roman texts written between 10 BC and 1 BC, as well as inscriptions from 10 AD to 20 AD, around the time of Emperor Augustus’s death in 14 AD. This pattern helped validate the use of Aeneas in such tasks. Sommerschield noted that the way Aeneas modeled scholarly debate was an exciting result. AI tools like Aeneas save time on complex inscription and artifact analysis, enabling researchers to focus on broader historical connections.