The Persepolis Fortification Archive Project is a new phase in recording and distributing the information that brings about these changes, using electronic equipment and media alongside the conventional tool-kits of philology and scholarship. In its early phases, the PFA Project has:
- Captured and edited conventional digital images of almost a thousand Elamite Fortification tablets, accelerating work that has been under way since 2002;
- Started to capture and edit very high resolution digital images of hundreds Aramaic Fortification tablets and their seal impressions, as well as uninscribed, sealed Fortification tablets, using large-format scanning backs and Polynomial Texture Mapping apparatus built specifically for the project;
- Started to explore advanced technologies for recording and conservation of Fortification tablets and fragments (3D scanning, subsurface laser scanning, CT scanning, laser cleaning and others);
- Formed a team of editors to prepare editions of Elamite and Aramaic Fortification tablets and studies of seal impressions, both those accompanying texts and those on uninscribed tablets, to be distributed on a real-time rolling basis along with images of the tablets;
- Catalogued, assessed and sorted about a third of the thousands of tablets and fragments that remain to be recorded, to identify priorities for conservation, study and presentation;
- Set up data structures for recording, linking, analyzing and presenting images and documents in the On-Line Cultural Heritage Environment (OCHRE);
- Entered co-operative agreements with projects at the Collège de France, the University of Southern California, and UCLA. which will lead to distribution of PFA data through at least three other on-line sources;
- Established a weblog to collect news reports on the status of the PFA as well as on-line images, articles, and books connected with Persepolis and the Persepolis tablets.
The PFA Project Team:
Editorial:
- Annalisa Azzoni (Vanderbilt University: Aramaic texts);
- Elspeth R. M. Dusinberre (University of Colorado: seal impressions on Aramaic texts);
- Mark B. Garrison (Trinity University: seal impressions on all items);
- Gene Gragg (Oriental Institute: electronic analysis of Elamite texts);
Wouter F. M. Henkelman (Collège de France: final edition of Elamite texts from the papers of the late Richard T. Hallock); - Charles E. Jones (American School of Classical Studies in Athens: new Elamite texts, weblog);
- Matthew W. Stolper (Oriental Institute: catalogue, new Elamite texts, project oversight).
Technical Support:
- Laura d’Alessandro (Oriental Institute: conservation);
- Marilyn Lundberg (University of Southern California: high-quality imaging of Aramaic and uninscribed tablets);
- Lec Maj (Humanities Research Computing, University of Chicago: advanced technology application, IT support and liaison);
- John Sanders (Oriental Institute: IT support);
- Sandra Schloen (Oriental Institute: OCHRE development and support);
- Bruce Zuckerman (USC: high-quality imaging of Aramaic and uninscribed tablets).
Student Workers and Volunteers (2006–07):
- Dennis Campbell (post-doc, NELC);
- Ivan Cangemi (undergraduate, Classics);
- Elizabeth Davidson (undergraduate, Classics);
- Irene Glasner (volunteer, OI);
- Louise Golland (volunteer, OI);
- Jennifer Gregory (graduate, NELC);
- Elise Macarthur (graduate, NELC);
- Clinton Moyer (graduate, Cornell University);
- John Nielsen (graduate, NELC);
- Miller Prosser (graduate, NELC)
- Foy Scalf (graduate: NELC)
Support
Support for some phases of the PFA Project has been received from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; the Chaire d’Histoire et civilisation du monde achéménide et de l’empire d’Alexandre of the Collège de France; the National Geographic Society Committee for Research and Exploration; the PARSA Community Foundation; the University of Chicago Provost’s Program on Academic Technology Innovation; the University of Chicago Women’s Board. Proposals to other agencies and donors are pending or in preparation.
