GIS for Archaeology and CRM

The Antkythera Mechanism Research Project: Applying modern computer technology to our oldest artifact of archaeological computer technology.

The Antikythera Mechanism Research Project (AMRP) is a joint venture by Cardiff University, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, X-Tek Systems UK and Hewlett-Packard USA, funded by the Leverhulme Trust and the Cultural Foundation of the National Bank of Greece.

The intention of AMRP is to use state of the art technologies to better understand the origins and function of the Antikythera Mechanism (A short background on this mechanism is written below). Thought to be a first century B.C. analog computing device for calculating the position of the sun, moon, and possibly classically known planets, the Antikythera Mechanism represents computing technology not thought o have existed until 1500 years later. Composed of Bronze and an array of 30+ gears, in a differential configuration, the mechanism, has been studied and x-Rayed in the past, but little understanding has come of it. (Wikipedia entry on Antikythera Mechanism)
Now, the AMRP, teamed up with major players in modern technology, hopes to unravel the mysteries of the Antikythera Mechanism. Using Computed x-Ray Tomography, the team developed 3D images of the mechanism and shed new light on the ~2000 Greek characters that are inscribed on the device. New releases show that the team is making great strides in understanding the inter workings of the ancient computer. As of June 6, 2006, the AMRP announced that using new techniques, they have now deciphered 95% of the Greek text etched in the Antikythera Mechanism. This transcripts have not yet been released, except for a small reveal on the website that mentions the “little Golden Sphere”.

In the coming months, the AMRP will release more information on their findings and reveal the ancient text which may very well rewrite the history of technology and computers as we now know it.

Background info on the Antikythera Mechanism

In 1901, near the Greek island of Antikythera, a sponge diver discovered an ancient shop wreck in 42 meters of water. Within this wreck were a number of statues, vessels, and other artifacts including a deeply encrusted clump of stone and metal. It was not for another year that archaeologist Spyridon Stais discovered that this encrusted lump displayed a distinct impression of a gear. As it turned out, this encrusted lump was a bronze mechanism which housed some 30+ gears and was constructed around 80 B.C.

From this point, archaeologists cleaned and then debated the origins and propose of the “Antikythera Mechansim” for years. It was not until 1959 that this artifact had received a full scientific evaluation. Derek Price published articles (1959 Scientific American article) discussing the function of the Antikythera Mechanism as a computing device for calculating the position of heavenly bodies such as the Sun and Moon. To this point, devices such as this, with differential gearing systems, were thought to not have been invented until 1500 years to the present. If Price was correct, this was by far the earliest computing device known to exist. Price’s articles set off a series of discussions, but the Antikythera Mechanism’s place in history was not yet secured.

In 1993, a new reconstruction was proposed by Bernard Gardner, a student of Allan George Bromley who X-Rayed the device some years earlier. Finally, in 2002, Micheal Wright used Linear Tomogrpahy to develop a new model which suggests that the Antikythera Mechanism could also calculate the location of classically known planets.

Antikythera Mechanism Animations

To get a better idea of how this whole thing works, I highly recommend checking out Manos Roumeliotis’s animation videos. Manos has modeled and reanimated the mechanism from scratch to show the mechanics behind the mystery.

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