The process is slow, as you have to piece together segments and reconstruct lines of text that have been lost to the ages. However, the results were worth it in this case: the researchers discovered that this is the earliest known copy of a Pentateuchal book from the Bible (Leviticus) to be found in a Holy Ark, dating back "at least" 1,500 years. The technique won't get a wide range of use when there are only so many ancient scrolls to go around, but it hints that even the most fragile pieces of written history are no longer off-limits.