The study of hands on Greek inscriptions: The need for a digital approach

Tracy, SV; Papaodysseus, C

dc.contributor.author	Tracy, SV	en
dc.contributor.author	Papaodysseus, C	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-01T01:32:11Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-01T01:32:11Z
dc.date.issued	2009	en
dc.identifier.issn	0002-9114	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://dspace.lib.ntua.gr/xmlui/handle/123456789/20070
dc.relation.uri	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79960487620&partnerID=40&md5=e6dfd9c94f81fe28afb47196d7dcb531	en
dc.subject.classification	Archaeology	en
dc.subject.other	ATHENIAN AGORA	en
dc.subject.other	BC	en
dc.title	The study of hands on Greek inscriptions: The need for a digital approach	en
heal.type	journalArticle	en
heal.language	English	en
heal.publicationDate	2009	en
heal.abstract	This note presents a short history of the study of hands in Greek epigraphy and suggests a new methodology for that work. The study of hands can offer a powerful means of dating fragments and enabling joins and associations of pieces that go together. The considerable time required to study a hand, however, and the problem of access to the inscriptions pose formidable obstacles to progress. In addition, as in any field of stylistic attribution, subjectivity remains an inevitable complicating factor. Computerization may offer a way forward. Scholars in epigraphy, mathematics, and computer studies have collaborated to develop two methods for mapping the lettering on inscriptions and then comparing the mapped samples to identify hands. They have successfully distinguished with 100% accuracy six hands on 23 separate fragments. This is a real breakthrough and the first time that the identification of a Greek writer has been realized via digital means. Computers offer the potential to automate the process and set the study of hands on a more objective footing.	en
heal.publisher	ARCHAEOLOGICAL INST AMERICA	en
heal.journalName	American Journal of Archaeology	en
dc.identifier.isi	ISI:000262341000006	en
dc.identifier.volume	113	en
dc.identifier.issue	1	en
dc.identifier.spage	99	en
dc.identifier.epage	102	en