Reliable writer identification in medieval manuscripts through page layout features: The “Avila” Bible case
Chelle Destefano|Marilena Maniaci|Francesco Fontanella|A. ScottodiFreca
In the field of manuscript studies (palaeography and codicology), a particularly interesting case is study highly standardized handwriting book typologies. such cases, analysis some basic layout features, mainly related to organization page exploitation available space, may be very helpful for distinguishing similar scribal hands. this framework, we have defined set features develop pattern recognition system identifying scribes who collaborated transcription single medieval Latin book. We also experimentally characterized discriminative power each considered feature verified whether selection an appropriate subset scribe, specifically devised him from all others, could allow us achieve better results. This approach allowed introduce in simple way reject option rejecting unreliably classified samples, namely those not assigned any scribe or more scribes. The experiments, performed on large database digital images so called “Avila Bible” – giant copy whole Bible produced during XII century between Italy Spain confirmed effectiveness proposed method. Finally, made publicly data extracted Avila images.
Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence