Under the supervision of the Dean of College of Archeology, Professor Dr. Yasmine Abdel Karim Muhammad Ali, and in cooperation with the British University of Durham, College of Archeology held today, Wednesday, January 28, 2026, the international scientific workshop entitled: Introduction and training on the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI), in which the following professors attended:
Dr. Ron Ratzberg/ Britain
Dr. Emily Bigberon/ Britain
The session was moderated by Assistant Professor Dr. Yasser Jaber Khalil, Assistant Dean for Scientific Affairs, and the international workshop witnessed a distinguished scientific presence from professors and students from the College of Archeology. It should be noted that the scientific workshop highlighted the introduction to the website (Cuneiform Digital CDLI Library Initiative) for digitizing cuneiform texts, as well as training the participants, including teachers and students specialized in the field of cuneiform texts, on the mechanisms of using the CDLI database, advanced research methods in it, and how to access cuneiform texts. Digitization, reading its descriptive data, and the possibility of employing it in academic academic archaeological research. One of the most important objectives of this workshop is to support the Arabic version of the CDLI website and facilitate the access of researchers and students to its content in Arabic, thus contributing to the localization of digital knowledge of cuneiform texts, and enhancing the use of electronic sources specialized in cuneiform studies within Iraqi academic institutions. The workshop came out with important recommendations, including:
1. Focus on the importance of digitization in preserving the cuneiform heritage.
2. Making CDLI website resources available to researchers at the global level.
3. Enhancing digital scientific research skills among participants.
4. The importance of openness to modern digital technologies in studying cuneiform texts, and their role in developing academic research and linking the Iraqi researcher with solid international projects.