3D Scans Of Ancient Tablets

clonebarkins writes "The BBC is reporting on a new project to create 3D scans of ancient tablets written in cuneiform. They are using software from Kestrel 3D. Just wait till Project Gutenberg gets a hold of these!"

Comments

Re:Sumerian texts

[jericho4.0]

From 'the drinking song';

In the troughs made with bur grass, there is sweet beer. I will have the cupbearers, the boys and the brewers stand by. As I spin around the lake of beer, while feeling wonderful, feeling wonderful, while drinking beer, in a blissful mood, while drinking alcohol and feeling exhilarated, with joy in the heart and a contented liver -- my heart is a heart filled with joy! I clothe my contented liver in a garment fit for a queen! The heart of Inana is happy once again; the heart of Inana is happy once again!

I really like the bit about the liver.

Taking a joke too seriously

[kalidasa]

Yes, this should drive you nuts: Project Gutenberg probably can't touch them. Technically, any transcription of the texts is copyrighted - the transcription is the result of editorial work, and so is copyright by the editor (textual editing is necessary on anything older than a few generations, and the older, the more necessary). Of course, the ACTUAL text of the tablets is public domain, so if you read and transcribe them yourself, you can put your transcription into the public domain. And I am talking about TRANSCRIPTIONS, as in "cuneiform texts in the original languages and cuneiform writing." Translations, obviously, are copyright by the translators if the original text is in the public domain.

There's a hell of a lot of work involved in transcribing something like this (or translating, for that matter).

Where can I find an Assyriologist?

[Xilman]

Some years ago I was given one of these tablets. It's about 5cm by 3cm by 1cm thick and is covered with cuneiform I can't read.

Anyone know where I can find an Assyriologist to help me read my tablet? Such people seem to be very few and far between.

Egyptologists, OTOH, are relatively easy to find and self-education books on Middle Egyptian are readily available.

Paul