On May 6, Melissa Bergoffen (TALOS RT2 PhD Candidate) presented her research and interacted with the other attendees at the Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (CAA) 2025 Conference in Athens, hosted by the University of West Attica. Her contribution was to Session 11: Connecting the Physical and Digital: Exploring Human-Intermediated Object Data Gathering. You can check the conference program here.

Melissa’s presentation, titled “Scroll or Table?: Importance of Complete Records and Standardized Terminologies in Researching Reading Women through the Beazley Archive Pottery Database,” shed light on aspects of methodology within digital archaeology. She underscored the necessity for consistent, high-quality iconographic metadata and the inclusion of detailed vase photographs in archival records. Her research aims to refine these standards using ontoterminologies via TEDI, in the hopes of enhancing metadata accuracy in an easily digestible manner.

Looking ahead, Melissa will expand on these insights during the upcoming 4th Annual TALOS PhD Meeting on May 14. Her focus will begin with the application of her iconographic metadata methodology on attic vase painting, but then shift towards implementing this method within her PhD project on Bronze Age Aegean Female Representations.

Melissa Bergoffen’s innovative approach exemplifies the intersection of digital technologies and archaeological research, setting a benchmark for future studies in the field. Her work not only enriches our understanding of ancient cultures but also underscores the importance of meticulous data management in preserving cultural heritage.