From Decayed Parchment to 'Bit Rot' -- Challenges in Digitizing Archimedes

About

The Archimedes Palimpsest, written in Constantinople in the 10th century, contains seven of the Greek mathematician's treatises. It is the only surviving copy of "On Floating Bodies" in the original Greek and the unique source for the "Method of Mechanical Theorems and Stomachion." In the 13th century, the manuscript was taken apart, the Archimedes text scraped off, and the parchment reused. In 1906, the undertext was recognized as containing previously unknown works by Archimedes. Since 1999, intense efforts have been made to retrieve the original text using advanced imaging techniques. On October 29, 2008 all images and data from the Archimedes Palimpsest were released to the public. Archimedes Palimpsest Program Manager Michael Toth, and Data Manager Doug Emery will discuss the use of digital multi- and hyperspectral imaging, metadata, and data encoding and access to provide standardized data as effective tools for scientists, researchers, preservation experts and information managers. They will also discuss how the program sought to address the "bit rot" problem in ensuring the digital data will be available in useful form for years to come. This includes application of input and feedback from conservators, preservation specialists, scientists, IT professionals, NASA, and data encoding specialists. This approach to data management and associated issues addresses the challenges faced by libraries, archives and museums in the current IT environment. This presentation will…

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Library of Congress, in Library of Congress: talks and concerts

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Rights statement at the Library of Congress, as the Library of Congress states it.

Credit

Library of Congress

Language

English

Country

United States

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