A team of linguists and computer scientists has unveiled 'Kharosthi-Decode', a specialized AI platform that has successfully translated a cache of charred birch-bark scrolls from the 2nd century. These documents, discovered in the Tarim Basin, were written in the difficult-to-decipher Kharosthi script. The AI utilizes deep-learning models trained on thousands of known characters to predict missing text in fragmented administrative logs and personal letters.
The translated texts reveal detailed insights into the daily life of Silk Road traders, including tax records for exotic textiles and the logistics of camel caravans. This technological breakthrough is expected to accelerate the study of thousands of similar unread fragments stored in museums across Central Asia, shedding light on the complex bureaucracy of the ancient Kushan Empire.