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NOVA scienceNOW: Papyrus
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Program Overview
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One hundred years ago, archeologists unearthed papyrus fragments
from an ancient garbage dump on the site of Oxyrhynchus, the third
largest city in Egypt when Greece ruled that land. Many of the
fragments were too stained and dirty to be deciphered, at least
until recently. A NASA-developed multispectral imaging technology
has helped papyrologists read these fragments and understand their
historical significance.
This NOVA scienceNOW segment:
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reports that Oxford University houses about 500,000 papyri
fragments excavated from densely packed layers of garbage from a
dump located near the ancient city of Oxyrhynchus, Egypt.
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explains how papyrus reeds are turned into a paper-like writing
material.
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states that multispectral imaging, originally used to see
through clouds of gas in space, was used to penetrate the dirt
and stains and reveal what was written on the papyrus.
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describes how multispectral imaging makes the text
evident—the fragments are exposed to infrared light, which
passes through the contamination and reflects off the
carbon-based ink underneath. Sensors detect this reflected light
and create an image of the writing.
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notes that the fragments reveal a great deal about daily life in
Oxyrhynchus.
Taping Rights: Can be used up to one year after the program
is taped off the air.
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