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Computerized Paleographic Investigation of Hebrew Iron Age Ostraca

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2016

Shira Faigenbaum-Golovin ,
Arie Shaus ,
Barak Sober ,
Israel Finkelstein ,
David Levin ,
Murray Moinester ,
Eli Piasetzky  and
Eli Turkel
Shira Faigenbaum-Golovin*
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics, Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Arie Shaus*
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics, Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Barak Sober*
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics, Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Israel Finkelstein
Affiliation:
Jacob M. Alkow Department of Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
David Levin
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics, Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Murray Moinester
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Astronomy, Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Eli Piasetzky
Affiliation:
School of Physics and Astronomy, Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Eli Turkel
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Mathematics, Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
*
2Corresponding authors: shirafaigen@gmail.com; baraksov@post.tau.ac.il; ashaus@post.tau.ac.il.
2Corresponding authors: shirafaigen@gmail.com; baraksov@post.tau.ac.il; ashaus@post.tau.ac.il.
2Corresponding authors: shirafaigen@gmail.com; baraksov@post.tau.ac.il; ashaus@post.tau.ac.il.
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Abstract

This article surveys ongoing research of the Legibility Enhancement of Ostraca (LEO) team of Tel Aviv University in the field of computerized paleography of Hebrew Iron Age ink-written ostraca. We perform paleographic tasks using tools from the fields of image processing and machine learning. Several new techniques serving this aim, as well as an adaptation of existing ones, are described herein. This includes testing a range of signal-acquisition methodologies, out of which multispectral imaging and Raman spectroscopy have matured into imaging systems. In addition, we deal with semior fully automated facsimile construction and refinement, facsimile, and character evaluation, as well as the reconstruction of broken character strokes. We conclude with future research directions, addressing some of the long-standing epigraphic questions, such as the number of scribes in specific corpora or detection of chronological concurrences and inconsistencies.

Type
Articles
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 57 , Issue 2 , 2015 , pp. 317 - 325
Copyright
Copyright © The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

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References

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