[eldoradude]

" In the late 1800s, scholars began making careful copies of Latin inscriptions throughout the ancient Roman world, including Pompeii, and cataloging them. This effort is a boon to scholars like Benefiel, since more than 90 percent of Pompeii's recorded graffiti have since been erased by exposure to the elements..."

Kind of a tossup on whether to excavate more before the next eruption or wait and let future archaeologists use (improved?) methods that better preserve the treasures.

[SunkenCiv]

The rest should be left for later. Some have worried that the volcano will have a serious eruption again and rebury everything, so let's quick dig. And the Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum is speculated to have a second, lower storey -- AFAIK based on absolutely nothing. Their dream is that there's an identical library under the first one with another box of scrolls. The story of the wasteful destructive "study" of the scrolls should be enough to convince most that the buried Roman towns should be left there for a long while yet.

• Mysterious scrolls linked to Julius Caesar could be read for first time ever [2019]
• 'Spectacular' ancient public library discovered in Germany [2018]
• Metallic ink used in the Herculaneum scrolls [2016]
• X-ray technique 'reads' burnt Vesuvius scroll [2015]
• Unlocking the scrolls of Herculaneum [2013]
• UK to 'unroll' papyrus scrolls buried by Vesuvius [Kentucky prof has non-invasive scanning technique [2009]
• In search of Western civilisation's lost classics (Herculaneum) [2008]
• In search of Western civilisation's lost classics [2008]
• Scientists use MRI at Kadlec to look at ancient Roman scrolls [2008]
• Rare Ancient Wooden Throne Found in Herculaneum (Buried by Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius) [2007]
• Battle for the books of Herculaneum (1 of finest libraries of the ancient world, covered in Lava) [2005]
• Millionaire to fund dig for lost Roman library [Villa of the Papyri] [2005]
• New hope in hunt for Roman library [2005]
• Focus: The search for the lost library of Rome [2005]
• Focus: The search for the lost library of Rome [2005]
• Herculean task for modern scholars - More on the Discovered Roman Literature being unearthed. [2002]
• Experts urge race against time to unearth last secrets of Herculaneum s lost library [2002]
• Ancient Roman Villa May Hold World's Richest Literary Treasure [2002]