Latest Articles

Nov 23, 2022

The Epigraphic Work of Howard Carter

We would be remiss if digitalEPIGRAPHY did not commemorate Howard Carter in some way on the 100th anniversary of discovering the tomb of Tutankhamun, one of the most important milestones in the history of both Egypt and Egyptology. The next...

Jun 30, 2022

Ostraca form the workmen’s huts in the Valley of the Kings

The Swiss archaeological mission "MISR: Mission Siptah-Ramses X." excavated the tombs of Siptah (KV 47) and Ramses X (KV 18) and their immediate surrounding areas between 1998 and 2005.

Jan 20, 2022

Grand Aspirations in a Slim Package – Huion Kamvas Pro 24 (4K) Pen Display Review

When transferring the Epigraphic Survey’s documentation procedure from traditional ink drawings to digitally “inked” pixel art, one aspect seemed to be of high priority from the get-go: owning the largest possible screen for studio work. Each...

Dec 22, 2021

Digital Inking on the Move Part 1 - XP-PEN Artist 12 2nd Generation Review

The review of XP-PEN's 2nd Generation Artist 12 pen display is aimed at those colleagues not wanting to learn new tricks regarding pen performance (i.e., don't want to use an iPad for digital inking) but instead looking for an affordable and...

Oct 6, 2021

(Nearly) Uncompromised Digital Inking on the Budget – Huion Inspiroy Dial Q620M

The Q620M is one of the many screenless pen tablets Huion currently sells, and not the cheapest option at that. Naturally, the unique perks of having a multifunctional knob and a selection of shortcut keys require an extra investment above the...

Aug 1, 2021

Virtual Malqata, the Amenhotep III Palace 3D Reconstruction Project – Accuracy Versus Authenticity

Franck Monnier and Paul François began the digital reconstruction of the palace of Amenhotep III at Malqata in 2016, as part of a collaboration with the Ancient Egyptian Heritage and Archaeological Fund. They used digital technologies and 3D...

Jul 20, 2021

Huion’s New Inspiroy KeyDial K200 is an Award-Winning All-in-one Solution for Digital Artists

The well-established drawing tablet maker, Huion, recently launched a new pen tablet and keyboard combo, called the Inspiron KeyDial K200. With its innovative design, it is made for artists who are not particularly attracted to pen displays and...

Jun 24, 2021

Documenting "Yellow" Coffins from Bab el-Gasus

When in 2009 the author was entrusted with the mission of producing a catalogue of the coffin sets of the so-called "Eighth Lot of Antiquities" from Bab el-Gasus (Sousa 2017), he could hardly imagine that this would be a turning moment of his life...

Jun 14, 2021

America’s First Woman Egyptologist – Caroline Ransom Williams

Dr. Caroline Louise Ransom Williams (1872-1952) was the first professionally trained woman Egyptologist in America. Mentored by Breasted who was only seven years her senior, their relationship would evolve from teacher and pupil to the greatest of...

Jun 12, 2021

Xencelabs’ Quick Keys Remote Promises a More Streamlined Workflow for Digital Artists

There is always the lingering question when working with the complex interface elements of Photoshop: could it be used more efficiently, or does one always have to poke around for every slight adjustment to be made?!

May 28, 2021

Gentleman Scholar and Pioneering Artist - Sir John Gardner Wilkinson’s Remarkable Contribution to Egyptology

In the second entry of our Evolution of Epigraphy series, we go back to the rediscovery of Egypt following the Napoleonic Wars, when epigraphic methods were yet to be conceived and early scholars could rely only on their observation skills and...

Apr 29, 2021

Let's Talk About… …Sun and Shadow - A Fundamental Update on Drawing Drop Shadow Transitions in Photoshop

Started with the first epigraphical efforts in Egypt, it has been a natural desire to capture this attribute when represented on a sheet of paper with only two aspects: length and breadth. In the next installment of this series, we'll put relief...

Apr 22, 2021

Documenting the Amenhotep III Wall Scene LD177 at Luxor Temple (Part 4) - From Model Creation to Presentation

This article will look at preliminary work adapting for-print 2D data for online 3D presentation and reflect on questions of how, when, and where these technologies can be used, and how such technologies intersect with the needs, aims, and ethos of...

Mar 22, 2021

Evolution of Epigraphy - James Henry Breasted’s Experiments with Technology to Create the Chicago House Method

The three-part article reflects on how Breasted came to establish the Epigraphic Survey and the Chicago House Method, utilizing new technologies to make epigraphic work possible, and setting the standard for the digital work of today.

Mar 18, 2021

Digital Epigraphy in the Tomb of Djehuty (TT 11) at Dra Abu el-Naga (Part 2)

The digital epigraphic record in Djehuty’s chapel comprises five phases: photographic documentation, in situ preliminary drawing, initial inking, collation, and final inking. This procedure ensures that the record is faithful and, in addition,...

Mar 16, 2021

Astro HQ’s Luna Display Dongle is Ready for Windows Users Offering a Seamless Connection Between PC and iPad

With Apple offering their own mirroring solution baked right into their operating system, Astro HQ decided to extend their portfolio beyond the Mac. In the past twelve months, the developers put a lot of effort into bringing their tech to PC users'...

Feb 17, 2021

Using Digital Epigraphy Methods for the Recording of Erased Text on Papyri

The Museo Egizio in Turin is home to many famous pieces of ancient Egyptian art. Less known is that the collection also contains roughly 9000 fragments and approximately 230 larger ensembles of New Kingdom hieratic papyri from Deir el-Medina, many...

Feb 9, 2021

Digital Epigraphy in the Tomb of Djehuty (TT 11) at Dra Abu el-Naga (Part 1)

A Spanish archaeological mission coordinated by the Spanish National Research Council has been working at the hill of Dra Abu el-Naga North since January 2002. The mission, also known as the ‘Djehuty Project’, has recently turned its attention...

Feb 3, 2021

Time Efficiency in Field Epigraphy - Documenting Loose Door Fragments in the Medinet Habu Blockyard

In the fall of 2007, when I began working at Chicago House, there were several hundred unregistered loose fragments scattered about the Medinet Habu temple precinct, some of them inscribed and lying face down on the ground, already showing advanced...

Jan 20, 2021

Get on Your Feet and Keep Drawing with the OGAWA Leband Electric Sit-Stand Desk Converter

It might seem unrelated to digital documentation, but digitalEPIGRAPHY would like to draw your attention to a device that has an impact not on your epigraphic product but on the way it is created.