The Jubilees Palimpsest Project: Spectral RTI Technology for the Recovery of Erased Manuscripts from Antiquity
FAIN: HK-250616-16
St. Mary's University (San Antonio, TX 78228-5433)
Todd Russell Hanneken (Project Director: February 2016 to November 2021)
Digitization of the
Jubilees Palimpsest, a manuscript containing multiple texts relevant to the
history of Judaism and early Christianity, using advanced imaging techniques.
The project would result in online publication of the manuscript and release of
open-source software to support image processing in future work.
This full-scale project phase will refine for widespread adoption the Spectral RTI technology tested in the start-up phase. Spectral RTI recovers text from erased manuscripts (palimpsests) by integrating spectral imaging’s ability to recover illegible markings with the ability of Reflectance Transformation Imaging to capture texture as fine as the corrosion of parchment where acidic ink had once been. The project will create a showcase of the technology using illegible artifacts with high humanities significance from the Biblioteca Ambrosiana in Milan. It will be published in a standards-compliant open repository. The artifacts will include at minimum the one-of-a-kind erased texts of Latin Jubilees, the Testament of Moses, and the Arian Commentary on Luke, each of which casts light on lost forms of Judaism and Christianity from 2100–1500 years ago. The project will streamline the procedure and publish instructions and user-friendly software to help future teams apply the technology.
Associated Products
Spectral RTI Toolkit (Computer Program)Title: Spectral RTI Toolkit
Author: Jubilees Palimpsest Project
Abstract: Toolkit for processing narrowband and hemisphere captures into Spectral RTI images
Year: 2016
Primary URL:
https://github.com/thanneken/SpectralRTI_ToolkitPrimary URL Description: GitHub repository
Access Model: Open
Programming Language/Platform: ImageJ Macro / Java
Source Available?: Yes
The Jubilees Palimpsest Project (Web Resource)Title: The Jubilees Palimpsest Project
Author: Todd R. Hanneken
Abstract: The website of the Jubilees Palimpsest Project, including International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) repository
Year: 2016
Primary URL:
http://jubilees.stmarytx.edu/Ambrosiana Archive (Web Resource)Title: Ambrosiana Archive
Author: Todd R. Hanneken
Abstract: Raw data captured at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana
Year: 2017
Primary URL:
http://palimpsest.stmarytx.edu/AmbrosianaArchive/The Jubilees Palimpsest Project (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: The Jubilees Palimpsest Project
Author: Todd R. Hanneken
Abstract: The Jubilees Palimpsest Project is working to advance technologies for the recovery of text from illegible manuscripts through the phases of capture, processing, access, and scholarly collaboration. The project takes its name from the only copy of Latin Jubilees, which is joined by the only copies anywhere of the Testament of Moses and an Arian commentary on the Gospel of Luke. After the successful imaging of these erased texts in January of 2017, the scope of objects of interest broadened to other significant palimpsests at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, such as Origen's Hexapla and a fourth-century translation of biblical books into Gothic. A long-term plan to systematically digitize illegible manuscripts is underway. A major advance in capture and processing technology created by the project is Spectral RTI, which combines the advantages of spectral imaging in color processing with the advantages of RTI in texture and interactivity. The addition of texture imaging can aid the recovery of text-for example if now-missing ink left an outline of corrosion on the surface of the parchment-and much more information about scribal practices from the creation and use of the manuscript. With support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the project is working to make the images and tools accessible to a wide range of scholars. Everything is free for non-commercial use and compliant with standards for discovery and access, such as the International Image Interoperability Framework. Free training will be available for scholars learning to utilize the image repository and for digitization projects learning to implement Spectral RTI.
Date: 11/20/2017
Primary URL:
http://jubilees.stmarytx.edu/thanneken/2017/Hanneken(2017)SBL-20171120.pdfPrimary URL Description: Slides
Conference Name: Society of Biblical Literature
Scholars and Scientists Working Together to Recover Erased Text (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: Scholars and Scientists Working Together to Recover Erased Text
Author: Keith T. Knox
Abstract: The recovery of erased text on parchment by multispectral imaging is a relatively new field. New methods of text recovery are being developed every time another manuscript is imaged. To successfully recovery erased text requires a close partnership between the scholars that want to read the manuscript and the scientists that do the imaging. It is only through a close coordination of their efforts that the scholar can read the images that the scientist has produced, and the scientist understands what the text looks like that the scholar wants to read. This was never more evident than in the recent imaging and analysis of the Petermann II Nachtrag 24 palimpsest at the Staatsbibliotek zu Berlin. Examples from this effort will be used to illustrate a successful scholarly-scientific cooperation.
Date: 11/20/2018
Primary URL:
https://www.sbl-site.org/meetings/Congresses_Abstracts.aspx?MeetingId=31Primary URL Description: Society of Biblical Literature Abstracts
Conference Name: Society of Biblical Literature
Spectral Image Processing Methods for Recovering Damaged Text (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: Spectral Image Processing Methods for Recovering Damaged Text
Author: Roger L. Easton
Abstract: Spectral imaging is the term used for collecting sets of images of objects under different wavelengths of light. Its value for the task of recovering erased, overwritten, or otherwise damaged historical texts is now well established, but new methods for processing the imagery are being developed continuously. This talk will outline the basic principles of spectral image processing, describe the methods that have been applied and demonstrate results that have been obtained for different types of historical documents, including palimpsests and maps.
Date: 11/20/2017
Primary URL:
https://www.sbl-site.org/meetings/Congresses_Abstracts.aspx?MeetingId=31Primary URL Description: Society of Biblical Literature Abstracts
Conference Name: Society of Biblical Literature
Texture Imaging from Capture to Access (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: Texture Imaging from Capture to Access
Author: Todd R. Hanneken
Abstract: Current and potential technologies for capture and visualization of texture in cultural heritage objects.
Date: 6/20/2017
Primary URL:
http://jubilees.stmarytx.edu/thanneken/2017/Hanneken(2017)TextureImagingCaptureAccess.pdfPrimary URL Description: Slides
Conference Name: Rochester Cultural Heritage Imaging, Visualization, and Education (R-CHIVE)
Overview of Imaging Modalities (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: Overview of Imaging Modalities
Author: Roger L. Easton
Abstract: Techniques for imaging cultural heritage objects
Date: 6/19/2017
Conference Name: Rochester Cultural Heritage Imaging, Visualization, and Education (R-CHIVE)
Measuring and Correcting Image Distortions (Conference Paper/Presentation)Title: Measuring and Correcting Image Distortions
Author: Keith T. Knox
Abstract: Improving registration accuracy in spectral imaging systems with filters
Date: 6/19/2017
Conference Name: Rochester Cultural Heritage Imaging, Visualization, and Education (R-CHIVE)
The Jubilees Palimpsest Project (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: The Jubilees Palimpsest Project
Abstract: Two-hour introduction to the Jubilees Palimpsest Project
Author: Todd R. Hanneken
Date: 9/9/2017
Location: St. Mary's University, San Antonio, TX
Primary URL:
http://palimpsest.stmarytx.edu/thanneken/2017/StudentResearchInfoSession-Slides.pdfPrimary URL Description: Slides
The Jubilees Palimpsest Project: Digital Archaeology Tools for Discovery and Access to Previously Illegible Manuscripts (Public Lecture or Presentation)Title: The Jubilees Palimpsest Project: Digital Archaeology Tools for Discovery and Access to Previously Illegible Manuscripts
Abstract: The Jubilees Palimpsest Project is working to advance technologies for the recovery of text from illegible manuscripts through the phases of capture, processing,
access, and scholarly collaboration. The project takes its name from the only copy of Latin Jubilees, which is joined by the only copies anywhere of the Testament
of Moses and an Arian commentary on the Gospel of Luke. After the successful imaging of these erased texts in January of 2017, the scope of objects of interest
broadened to other significant palimpsests at the Biblioteca Ambrosiana, such as Origen’s Hexapla and a fourth-century translation of biblical books into Gothic.
A long-term plan to systematically digitize illegible manuscripts is underway.
A major advance in capture and processing technology created by the project is Spectral RTI, which combines the advantages of spectral imaging in color processing
with the advantages of RTI in texture and interactivity. The addition of texture imaging can aid the recovery of text—for example if now-missing ink left an outline
of corrosion on the surface of the parchment—and much more information about scribal practices from the creation and use of the manuscript.
Author: Todd R. Hanneken
Date: 11/9/2017
Location: University of Texas, Austin, TX
Primary URL:
http://jubilees.stmarytx.edu/thanneken/2017/20171109-UTAustin.pdfPrimary URL Description: Slides
Three Priorities for Digitally-Enabled Research and Teaching in Manuscripts of Biblical Literature (Book Section)Title: Three Priorities for Digitally-Enabled Research and Teaching in Manuscripts of Biblical Literature
Author: Todd R. Hanneken
Editor: Garrick V. Allen
Editor: Sara Schulthess
Editor: Paul Dilley
Editor: Peter Phillips
Abstract: Before digital technology, most of us had access to manuscripts by way of photographic plates and critical editions. Those few who had the privilege of handling the manuscript itself faced their own challenges. Digital technology opens new possibilities for extending and improving the role of manuscripts in our research and teaching. The impact of digitizing manuscripts is unmistakable, but digitizing is not an end in itself. We should think about why we digitize and what we expect a digital simulation of a manuscript to be able to do. In turn, this leads to consideration of how to digitize and what to do with the digital simulation. This essay discusses three priorities I consider most essential when digitizing manuscripts for the benefit of research and teaching in biblical literature. I draw from my experience directing the Jubilees Palimpsest Project, which faced challenges in these areas in the pursuit of the study of the only copy of Jubilees in Latin and the only copy anywhere of the Testament (or Assumption) of Moses. I started off with an interest in recovering more text from the manuscript, which dates from the fifth century and which has been abused to the point of illegibility since that time. As the project progressed, I realized the potential for the digitization of manuscripts to do much more than add to critical editions.
Year: 2022
Primary URL:
https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004515116_003Publisher: Brill
Book Title: New Approaches to Textual and Image Analysis in Early Jewish and Christian Studies
ISBN: 978-90-04-5151
New Technology for Imaging Unreadable Manuscripts and Other Artifacts: Integrated Spectral Reflectance Transformation Imaging (Spectral RTI) (Book Section)Title: New Technology for Imaging Unreadable Manuscripts and Other Artifacts: Integrated Spectral Reflectance Transformation Imaging (Spectral RTI)
Author: Todd R. Hanneken
Editor: Claire Clivaz
Editor: Paul Dilley
Editor: David Hamidović
Abstract: In the twenty-first century advances in digital technology are propelling the study of ancient literature and scribal culture. This essay describes an integrated set of advances in image capture, processing, and dissemination that improves upon first-hand experience and harnesses the power of the web to connect people and data. Illegible manuscripts are an area of particular interest among all the cultural heritage artifacts that benefit from these advances. Spectral RTI makes it possible to distinguish letters and other evidence of use based on traces as subtle as the corrosion of parchment where ink had once been and the spectral signature of ink stains that cannot be distinguished by the human eye. WebGL and open standards are making it possible to link to interactive enhanced images from anywhere on the web, and to link from the images to annotations and tools for analysis.
Year: 2016
Primary URL:
https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004325234_010Publisher: Brill
Book Title: Ancient Worlds in a Digital Culture
ISBN: 978-90-04-3252
Spectral/RTI (Book Section)Title: Spectral/RTI
Author: Todd R. Hanneken
Editor: Marilyn J. Lundberg
Editor: Armin Lange
Abstract: Spectral Reflectance Transformation Imaging (Spectral RTI) combines the advantages of Spectral Imaging with the advantages of Reflectance Transformation Imaging into a single consistent data set. For each pixel both color and texture properties are known and can be processed and visualized together. The major advantages gathered from spectral imaging are improved spatial resolution, color resolution, color range beyond the visible spectrum, processing enhancements, and objectively accurate color. The major advantages gathered from RTI are interactivity and enhanced visualization of texture. The combination is greater than the sum of its parts in as much as color and texture information are complementary. For example, even a single letter in an illegible manuscript may have some trace of writing from remaining ink and another trace in the outline of the corrosion into the surface of the parchment where ink had once been. A human user can visualize the information together in a single view for a more complete and natural experience of the manuscript. The consistent combined data also has potential to improve machine learning applied to manuscripts. The cost in time and equipment of Spectral RTI is less than the sum of each. As of 2017, spectral imaging systems can vary from a few thousand to over a hundred thousand dollars, with options for adding RTI of comparable sophistication adding approximately ten percent across the range of cost. There is no cost for the processing software. The cost in time is less than the sum of each because mounting, focus, metadata entry, etc., is done only once for the complete data set. Capture of a single page may take a minute to more than twenty minutes depending on the equipment, resolution, and thoroughness selected.
Year: 2022
Primary URL:
https://brill.com/display/title/63028Primary URL Description: Print Edition
Secondary URL:
https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/textual-history-of-the-bible/*-COM_225868Secondary URL Description: Electronic Access
Publisher: Brill
Book Title: Textual History of the Bible Vol. 3D Science, Technology, and Textual Criticism
ISBN: 978-90-04-5197
Guide to Creating Spectral RTI Images (Web Resource)Title: Guide to Creating Spectral RTI Images
Author: Todd R. Hanneken
Abstract: This documentation provides practical guidance to creating Spectral RTI images. Sections include evaluating whether Spectral RTI is necessary, how to capture data, how to process images, and how to make images accessible to users.
Year: 2019
Primary URL:
https://jubilees.stmarytx.edu/spectralrtiguide/