Lichtgedanken 04

Rubrik 27 04 | LICHT GEDANKEN to put together the individual images to create a 3D view. It is a laborious process. There were technical issues with the first items; they contained gaps that were too large, for example. As Prof. Krebernik explains, the ever-improving programme has been able to close gaps like these. The artefacts come in varying conditions: there are large items and others made up of numerous fragments. Manfred Kre- bernik says that the state of preservation of the clay tablets also varies. Hollow spaces within or crystals increase the risk of breakage—gloves must be worn to handle the tablets. For researchers and the inquisitive public— extensive meta data accompanies the digital reproductions The scanners and software are provided by the MPI. The tech- nology provides high-resolution digital reproductions, which are up to five gigabytes in size. The original files are com- pressed for their online use so they load quicker. But it is also possible to download the originals. Aseparate online database, linkedwith CDLI, has been created for the Jena collection. In addition to the 3D scans, it also con- tains older photographs, as well as numerous meta data, such as inventory numbers, dimensions, datings, item descriptions, discovery sites, transcriptions and secondary literature. Com- piling the data records is a time-consuming process. It must also be ensured that the scanned files and meta data are cor- rect and up-to-date. Sometimes during processing, it becomes clear that two or more fragments fit together. If they were ori- ginally recorded and scanned separately, they must now be scanned again and given a new data record and cross-refer- ence. According to Manfred Krebernik, a total of around 3,000 items are to be recorded digitally. The majority of the work has already been completed—around 2,500 items have been scanned already—yet considerable effort is still required for meta files and the programming of the online database. The project is scheduled to finish at the end of 2019. The treasures of the Hilprecht Collection will then be available online for the world of research and inquisitive members of the public. The critical edition of the texts will, however, take a little longer; three volumes from the series entitled »Texte und Materialien der Hilprecht Collection« (Texts and Materials from the Hil- precht Collection) are currently in preparation or in print. Contact Prof. Dr Manfred Krebernik Institute of Near Eastern Studies, In­ do-European Studies and the Archaeology of Prehistory to the Early Middle Ages Zwätzengasse 4, D-07743 Jena, Germany Phone: +49 36 41 9-44 871 Email: manfred.krebernik@uni-jena.de www.oriindufa.uni-jena.de Further Information: https://hilprecht.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de http://sammlungen.uni-jena.de https://cdli.ucla.edu/ A 3,700-year-old cuneiform script tablet is scanned. The clay tablet contains a mathematical table and originates from the city of Nippur in modern Iraq.