An unknown number of them were also allegedly burned for heat as they were mistaken for wood logs during early excavations
This is often said, but this passage could really have been written today:
"… we will inquire into something, but we
will not grasp it, if in some way we depart
from ourselves and from our own nature,
and besides, in the same way as the
remaining arts may be said to be perfected
in one respect, but to be deficient in
practical wisdom in another respect…"
From PHerc. 1667, col 17 (see Complete virtual unwrapping and reading of a rolled Herculaneum papyrus, pg 25)
Very cool stuff.