Beyond the Wedge: High-Resolution 3D Analysis of Stylus Fiber Impressions in Cuneiform Tablets

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• Mirko Surdi (Ghent University)
• Tuesday 21 January 2025, 17:15-19:30
• McDonald Seminar Room, Department of Archaeology.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Megan Hinks.

Although three-dimensional scanning has proven increasingly effective in documenting and analyzing cuneiform tablets, a crucial element has often been overlooked: the fibrous impressions left by the reed stylus on the left side of the wedge. Because of their microscopic scale, capturing these impressions poses a challenge for many conventional 3D measurement technologies, leaving an unexplored aspect of research within Assyriology. To bridge this gap, state-of-the-art high-resolution 3D scanners from LMI Technologies (the Gocator series) are being evaluated on cuneiform tablets from Ghent University’s collection. Preliminary findings suggest that these fibrous impressions exhibit morphological features as unique as human fingerprints, indicating that stylus-specific patterns could offer an innovative method for confirming joins. More generally, this new approach may shed light on ancient scribal practice, broadening the interpretive horizons of Assyriology and related fields.

This talk is part of the Ancient Near East Seminar Series series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• Ancient Near East Seminar Series
• McDonald Seminar Room, Department of Archaeology

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