14. A machine-readable storage device, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising: receiving a plurality of photographic images of an object obtained from different positions relative to the object; processing the plurality of photographic images to determine a three-dimensional model of the object; generating a polygon mesh representation of a three-dimensional surface of the object; determining, from the polygon mesh representation of the three-dimensional surface of the object, a graphical representation of a surface of the object comprising a plurality of inscriptions indicative of encoded information; presenting the graphical representation of a surface of the object on a display device; receiving, a selection of a region of the graphical representation of the surface of the object, wherein the region bounds a subset of inscriptions of the plurality of inscriptions; transcribing the subset of inscriptions of the graphical representation of the surface of the object to determine a plurality of markings; associating a group of symbols with the plurality of markings; determining from at least one marking of the plurality of markings a plurality of alternative groups of symbols; determining a plurality of alternative transliterations of a symbol of one of the group of symbols, the plurality of alternative groups of symbols, or both; and determining a plurality of alternative translations of a transliteration of the plurality of alternative transliterations, wherein the graphical representation comprises a flattened surface representation of the three-dimensional surface of the object, and wherein the operations further comprise applying frequency analysis to the polygon mesh representation of the three-dimensional surface of the object, wherein the transcribing of the subset of inscriptions is based on the applying of the frequency analysis.
14. A machine-readable storage device, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising: receiving a plurality of photographic images of an object obtained from different positions relative to the object; processing the plurality of photographic images to determine a three-dimensional model of the object; generating a polygon mesh representation of a three-dimensional surface of the object; determining, from the polygon mesh representation of the three-dimensional surface of the object, a graphical representation of a surface of the object comprising a plurality of inscriptions indicative of encoded information; presenting the graphical representation of a surface of the object on a display device; receiving, a selection of a region of the graphical representation of the surface of the object, wherein the region bounds a subset of inscriptions of the plurality of inscriptions; transcribing the subset of inscriptions of the graphical representation of the surface of the object to determine a plurality of markings; associating a group of symbols with the plurality of markings; determining from at least one marking of the plurality of markings a plurality of alternative groups of symbols; determining a plurality of alternative transliterations of a symbol of one of the group of symbols, the plurality of alternative groups of symbols, or both; and determining a plurality of alternative translations of a transliteration of the plurality of alternative transliterations, wherein the graphical representation comprises a flattened surface representation of the three-dimensional surface of the object, and wherein the operations further comprise applying frequency analysis to the polygon mesh representation of the three-dimensional surface of the object, wherein the transcribing of the subset of inscriptions is based on the applying of the frequency analysis. 17. The machine-readable storage device of claim 14 , wherein the one of the plurality of alternative groups of symbols, the plurality of alternative transliterations, or the plurality of alternative translations are presented on the display device according to a ranked order.