TED: How I'm discovering the secrets of ancient texts | Gregory Heyworth

The video discusses the preservation of ancient manuscripts, focusing on the Timbuktu manuscripts and the challenges they face. It introduces the concept of textual science, a field combining traditional literary skills with modern imaging technology to recover lost texts. The speaker shares their journey from a medieval scholar to a textual scientist, highlighting the use of multispectral imaging to uncover hidden texts. The Lazarus Project, a non-profit initiative, aims to make this technology accessible to researchers. The video concludes with the potential of textual science to transform our understanding of history and culture.

What was the first transcription made from the Codex Vercellensis in 250 years?

What is the Lazarus Project and what is its purpose?

What did the imaging of Thomas Jefferson's draft of the Declaration of Independence reveal?

What future challenges are mentioned regarding the preservation of manuscripts?