Scientists from Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro have agreed to set up a joint group to study unrolled birch-bark literatures. For this purpose it is planned to use advanced technologies minimizing the impact on fragile artifacts.
Scientists of the Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro have come up with an initiative to create a joint research group to study the unfolded birch-bark letters. Maxim Mironenko, a specialist of the Department of Historical Informatics at the Faculty of History of Moscow State University, told TASS on the margins of the BRICS+ Open Science Week in Rio de Janeiro.
Scientific centers and museums in Russia today store thousands of birch-bark literatures found in different years, most of which are in rolled form. These artifacts are very fragile, and any attempt to unfold them can lead to complete destruction.
"The Radiocenter of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro conducts research using radiation and has expertise specifically in the study of scrolls. <...> On the platform of the BRICS+ Open Science Week, we started the process of discussing plans for joint study of such artifacts on the basis of the Brazilian university," Mironenko said.
He explained that radio wave methods allow to “look” inside the scroll and scan its contents, and machine learning technologies - to decipher the text. This approach is less destructive and significantly speeds up the process of studying ancient manuscripts.
Similar technologies are being developed in Russia, in particular, at the Kurchatov Institute. Cooperation with the Brazilian university will make it possible to compare practices used in different countries and choose the most effective methods of preserving cultural heritage.