Bruce Zuckerman

Bruce Zuckerman may not know the secret of the universe, but thanks to a novel image database he’s developed with his InscriptiFact project, he’s got some pretty hot leads.

Using sophisticated photography and computer imaging techniques, Zuckerman’s team has shot thousands of high-resolution images of ancient tablets, writings and other artifacts and chronicled them in the InscriptiFact online database for scholars around the globe to access and further their research.

In addition to developing photographic techniques that reveal previously unseen qualities on these objects, the database enables the virtual reassembly of artifact portions even though they are separated by thousands of miles.

The online database itself utilizes a number of sophisticated search techniques, including image-mapping technology borrowed from the world of oceanography.

Zuckerman, who came to USC in 1980 from Harvard's Semitic Museum, is the director of InscriptiFact's parent organization, the West Semitic Research Project, and head of the USC Archaeological Research Collection.

• West Semitic Research Project
• USC School of Religion
• Bruce Zuckerman Home Page