Cuneiform Forensics - 3D Digital Analysis of Cuneiform Tablet Production

FAIN: HD-50067-07

CUNY Research Foundation, Brooklyn College (Brooklyn, NY 11210-2850)
H. Arthur Bankoff (Project Director: November 2006 to August 2012)

Digital laser scanning and three-dimensional quantification, as well as the creation of digitally-generated models, of ancient Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets.

The Brooklyn College Archaeological Research Center and the Brooklyn College Digital Morphology Laboratory are applying for funding from the NEH Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants Program to investigate the feasibility of using laser scanning and 3D quantification and analysis of the cuneiform signs on a series of ancient Near Eastern tablets as a pilot study (1) to determine whether specific ?hands? can be identified ; (2) to investigate whether the same technology and research design can be used to match unconnected tablet fragments and to determine whether or not they are parts of the same text; (3) to reconstruct and compare the seals on the tablets and, (4) to reproduce exact larger-scale replicas of tablets and seals in epoxy resin for study and exhibit.