University of Kentucky
Herculaneum Opened Scroll Database
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Junior
Major
Computer Science
Minor
Criminology, Mathematics
2nd Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
2nd Student Major
Computer Science
2nd Student Minor
Mathematics
Institution 23-24
University of Kentucky
KY House District #
18
KY Senate District #
5
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Dr. William Brent Seales
Department
Department of Computer Science
Abstract
The Herculaneum Papyri are among the most iconic and inaccessible damaged manuscripts in the modern world. Carbonized and buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, the ~1,100 papyrus scrolls excavated from the ancient city of Herculaneum in the late 18th century, offers us a unique window into the classical world. EduceLab has been working on collecting 3D scans, spectral images, and descriptive data of over ~3,500 opened scroll fragments; this information is currently stored in google sheets, csv files, and metadata files. With all of this information scattered across multiple different files there is no way to easily organize, view, and navigate through the data. Our project focuses on making this information easily accessible and navigable to researchers by developing a relational database, available through a secure website, that allows for users to query the data. To accomplish this task a script needs to be developed to automatically collect the information that is being stored in the different files and use their information to develop and update a dedicated database. A website then needs to be developed to allow for users to access the database through the use of queries, and display the resulting information in a user-friendly manner. With the help of user feedback, we are hoping to develop a tool that allows papyrologists and fellow researchers access to scans, images, and descriptive information in order to study the opened scrolls without having to travel to the libraries which house the scrolls.
Herculaneum Opened Scroll Database
The Herculaneum Papyri are among the most iconic and inaccessible damaged manuscripts in the modern world. Carbonized and buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, the ~1,100 papyrus scrolls excavated from the ancient city of Herculaneum in the late 18th century, offers us a unique window into the classical world. EduceLab has been working on collecting 3D scans, spectral images, and descriptive data of over ~3,500 opened scroll fragments; this information is currently stored in google sheets, csv files, and metadata files. With all of this information scattered across multiple different files there is no way to easily organize, view, and navigate through the data. Our project focuses on making this information easily accessible and navigable to researchers by developing a relational database, available through a secure website, that allows for users to query the data. To accomplish this task a script needs to be developed to automatically collect the information that is being stored in the different files and use their information to develop and update a dedicated database. A website then needs to be developed to allow for users to access the database through the use of queries, and display the resulting information in a user-friendly manner. With the help of user feedback, we are hoping to develop a tool that allows papyrologists and fellow researchers access to scans, images, and descriptive information in order to study the opened scrolls without having to travel to the libraries which house the scrolls.