Arie Shaus

Arie Shaus אריה שאוס

Visiting Assistant Professor in Data Science at Mount Holyoke College.

Rumor has it that I somehow combine computations with archaeology. Which is nonsense, isn't it?

Mail: ashaus@mtholyoke.edu

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3727-2774

Links: Computerized Paleography Group, Google Scholar, Scopus, ResearchGate, Academia, recursion.

Education

2012-2018 - Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, topic: “Computer Vision and Machine Learning Methods for Analyzing First Temple Period Inscriptions”
2007-2015 - B.A. in Archaeology and Ancient Near Eastern Cultures (summa cum laude)
2007-2011 - M.Sc. in Applied Mathematics (magna cum laude)
2003-2006 - B.Sc. in Mathematics (summa cum laude)
2003-2007 - Adi Lautman Interdisciplinary Program for Outstanding Students

List of publications

A. Shaus, D. Reich, “The Iron II burial cave: Ancient DNA sampling and analysis of uniparental markers”, in: I. Finkelstein, T. Römer, eds., Kiriath-jearim: The Shmunis Family Excavations, Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology Monograph Series 45, Eisenbrauns, University Park, PA, 311-318, https://doi.org/10.5325/jj.28174276.30, 2025.
H. Ringbauer, A. Salman-Minkov, D. Regev, I. Olalde, T. Peled, L. Sineo, G. Falsone, P. van Dommelen, A. Mittnik, I. Lazaridis, D. Pettener, M. Bofill, A. Mezquida, B. Costa, H. Jiménez, P. Smith, S. Vai, A. Modi, A. Shaus, K. Callan, E. Curtis, A. Kearns, A. M. Lawson, M. Mah, A. Micco, J. Oppenheimer, L. Qiu, K. Stewardson, J. N. Workman, N. Márquez-Grant, A. M. Sáez Romero, M. L. Lavado Florido, J. M. Jiménez-Arenas, I. J. Toro Moyano, E. Viguera, J. Suárez Padilla, S. López Chamizo, T. Marques-Bonet, E. Lizano, A. Rodero Riaza, F. Olivieri, P. Toti, V. Giuliana, A. Barash, L. Carmel, E. Boaretto, M. Faerman, M. Lucci, F. La Pastina, A. Nava, F. Genchi, C. Del Vais, G. Lauria, F. Meli, P. Sconzo, G. Catalano, E. Cilli, A. C. Fariselli, F. Fontani, D. Luiselli, B. J. Culleton, S. Mallick, N. Rohland, L. Nigro, A. Coppa, D. Caramelli, R. Pinhasi, C. Lalueza-Fox, I. Gronau, D. Reich, “Punic people were genetically diverse with almost no Levantine ancestors”, Nature 643, 139-147, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08913-3, 2025.
A. Shaus, D. Reich, G. Goldenberg, L. Freud, V. Eshed, I. Finkelstein, “Ancient mitochondrial DNA analysis of an Iron II burial cave on the slope of Tel Kiriath-Yearim”, in: Y. Shalev, O. Peleg-Barkat, Y. Zelinger, Y. Gadot eds., New Studies in the Archaeology of Jerusalem and its Region: Collected Papers, Vol. XVI, The Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 49*-67*, (link to the publisher), 2023.
A. R. Vitor, A. Shaus, G. C. Cardoso, “Image haziness contrast metric describing optical scattering depth”, Optics 4, 525-537, https://doi.org/10.3390/opt4040038, 2023.
S. Faigenbaum-Golovin, A. Shaus, B. Sober, “Computational handwriting analysis of ancient Hebrew inscriptions – A survey”, IEEE BITS the Information Theory Magazine 2.1, 90-101, https://doi.org/10.1109/MBITS.2022.3197559, 2022.
R. Martín Hernández, A. Shaus, “New technologies for tracing magical texts and drawings: Experience with automatic binarization algorithms”, in: S. Torallas Tovar, R. Martín Hernández eds., The Materiality of Greek and Roman Curse Tablets: Technological Advances, The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, Chicago, Chapter 2, 33-43 and 63-75, (link to the publisher), 2022.
S. Faigenbaum-Golovin, A. Shaus, B. Sober, Y. Gerber, E. Turkel, E. Piasetzky, I. Finkelstein, “Literacy in Judah and Israel: Algorithmic and forensic examination of the Arad and Samaria ostraca”, Near Eastern Archaeology (NEA) 84.2, 148-158, https://doi.org/10.1086/714070, 2021.
A. Shaus, Y. Gerber, S. Faigenbaum-Golovin, B. Sober, E. Piasetzky, I. Finkelstein, “Forensic document examination and algorithmic handwriting analysis of Judahite biblical period inscriptions reveal significant literacy level”, PLOS ONE 15.9, e0237962, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237962, 2020.
S. Faigenbaum-Golovin, A. Shaus, B. Sober, E. Turkel, E. Piasetzky, I. Finkelstein, “Algorithmic handwriting analysis of the Samaria inscriptions illuminates bureaucratic apparatus in biblical Israel”, PLOS ONE 15.1, e0227452, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227452, 2020.
- Samaria Ancient Hebrew dataset, figshare (CC BY 4.0), https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.10266206.v1.
A. Mendel-Geberovich, S. Faigenbaum-Golovin, A. Shaus, B. Sober, M. Cordonsky, E. Piasetzky, I. Finkelstein, I. Milevski “A renewed reading of Hebrew ostraca from cave A-2 at Ramat Beit Shemesh (Nahal Yarmut), based on multispectral imaging”, Vetus Testamentum, 69.4-5, 682–701, https://doi.org/10.1163/15685330-00001370, 2019.
A. Shaus, B. Sober, O. Tzang, Z. Ioffe, O. Cheshnovsky, I. Finkelstein, E. Piasetzky, “Raman binary mapping of Iron Age ostracon in unknown material composition and high fluorescence setting – A proof of concept”, Archaeometry, 61.2, 459–469, https://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.12419, 2019.
S. Faigenbaum-Golovin, A. Shaus, B. Sober, A. Mendel-Geberovich, E. Piasetzky, I. Finkelstein, “Shedding light on Iron Age Hebrew ostraca via modern imaging and computational technologies”, TAU Archaeology 3, 12, (link to the publisher), 2018.
A. Mendel-Geberovich, A. Shaus, S. Faigenbaum-Golovin, B. Sober, M. Cordonsky, E. Piasetzky, I. Finkelstein, “A brand new old inscription: Arad ostracon 16 rediscovered via multispectral imaging”, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research (BASOR), 378, 113-125, https://doi.org/10.5615/bullamerschoorie.378.0113, 2017.
A. Shaus, B. Sober, S. Faigenbaum-Golovin, A. Mendel-Geberovich, D. Levin, E. Piasetzky, E. Turkel, “Statistical inference in archaeology: Are we confident?”, in: O. Lipschits, Y. Gadot, M. J. Adams eds., Rethinking Israel: Studies in the History and Archaeology of Ancient Israel in Honor of Israel Finkelstein, Eisenbrauns, Winona Lake, 389-401, (link to the publisher), 2017.
A. Shaus, E. Turkel, “Towards letter shape prior and paleographic tables estimation in Hebrew First Temple period ostraca”, Proceedings of the 4^th International Workshop on Historical Document Imaging and Processing (HIP 2017), 13-18, https://doi.org/10.1145/3151509.3151511, 2017.
S. Faigenbaum-Golovin, A. Mendel-Geberovich, A. Shaus, B. Sober, M. Cordonsky, D. Levin, M. Moinester, B. Sass, E. Turkel, E. Piasetzky, I. Finkelstein, “Multispectral imaging reveals biblical-period inscription unnoticed for half a century”, PLOS ONE 12.6, e0178400, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178400, 2017.
- Corrected Fig 5 of Arad 16 Recto in 600dpi, figshare (CC BY 4.0), https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.5280706.v1.
A. Shaus, E. Turkel, “Writer identification in modern and historical documents via binary pixel patterns, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Fisher's method”, Journal of Imaging Science and Technology 61.1, 010404-1–010404-9, https://doi.org/10.2352/J.ImagingSci.Technol.2017.61.1.010404, 2017, 2018 Charles E. Ives Journal Award.
- Reprinted in: Proceedings of the IS&T International Symposium on Electronic Imaging 2017, 22^nd Human Vision and Electronic Imaging Conference (HVEI 2017), 203-211, https://doi.org/10.2352/ISSN.2470-1173.2017.14.HVEI-144, 2017.
A. Shaus, S. Faigenbaum-Golovin, B. Sober, E. Turkel, E. Piasetzky, “Potential contrast - A new image quality measure”, Proceedings of the IS&T International Symposium on Electronic Imaging 2017, Image Quality and System Performance XIV Conference (IQSP 2017), 52-58, https://doi.org/10.2352/ISSN.2470-1173.2017.12.IQSP-226, 2017.
A. Shaus, E. Turkel, “Chan-Vese revisited: Relation to Otsu’s method and a parameter-free non-PDE solution via morphological framework”, Proceedings of the 12^th International Symposium on Visual Computing (ISVC 2016), Advances in Visual Computing, Lecture Notes in Computer Science 10072, Vol. I, 203-212, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50835-1_19, 2016.
A. Shaus, B. Sober, S. Faigenbaum-Golovin, A. Mendel-Geberovich, E. Piasetzky, E. Turkel, “Facsimile creation: Review of algorithmic approaches”, in: I. Finkelstein, C. Robin, T. Römer eds., Alphabets, Texts and Artefacts in the Ancient Near East: Studies Presented to Benjamin Sass, Van Dieren, Paris, 474-488, (link to the publisher), 2016.
A. Shaus, B. Sober, E. Turkel, E. Piasetzky, “Beyond the ground truth: Alternative quality measures of document binarizations”, Proceedings of the 15^th International Conference on Frontiers in Handwriting Recognition (ICFHR 2016), 495-500, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICFHR.2016.0097, 2016.
S. Faigenbaum-Golovin, A. Shaus, B. Sober, D. Levin, N. Na’aman, B. Sass, E. Turkel, E. Piasetzky, I. Finkelstein, “Algorithmic handwriting analysis of Judah’s military correspondence sheds light on composition of biblical texts”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) 113.17, 4664-4669, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1522200113, 2016.
- Modern Hebrew dataset, figshare (CC BY 4.0), https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.11423352.v1.
- Arad Ancient Hebrew dataset, figshare (CC BY 4.0), https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.11423181.v1.
S. Faigenbaum-Golovin, A. Shaus, B. Sober, I. Finkelstein, D. Levin, M. Moinester, E. Piasetzky, E. Turkel, “Computerized paleographic investigation of Hebrew Iron Age ostraca”, Radiocarbon 57.2, 317-325, https://doi.org/10.2458/azu_rc.57.18565, 2015.
B. Sober, S. Faigenbaum, I. Beit-Arieh, I. Finkelstein, M. Moinester, E. Piasetzky, A. Shaus, “Multispectral imaging as a tool for enhancing the reading of ostraca”, Palestine Exploration Quarterly 146.3, 185-197, https://doi.org/10.1179/0031032814Z.000000000101, 2014.
S. Faigenbaum, B. Sober, I. Finkelstein, M. Moinester, E. Piasetzky, A. Shaus, M. Cordonsky, “Multispectral imaging of two Hieratic inscriptions from Qubur el-Walaydah”, Ägypten und Levante/Egypt and the Levant 24, 349-353, https://doi.org/10.1553/s349, 2014.
S. Faigenbaum, A. Shaus, B. Sober, E. Turkel, E. Piasetzky, “Evaluating glyph binarizations based on their properties”, Proceedings of the 2013 ACM Symposium on Document Engineering (DocEng 2013), 127-130, https://doi.org/10.1145/2494266.2494318, 2013.
A. Shaus, B. Sober, O. Tzang, Z. Ioffe, O. Cheshnovsky, I. Finkelstein, E. Piasetzky, “Raman Scanning of Biblical Period Ostraca” (extended abstract), Book of Abstracts of the 7^th International Congress on the Application of Raman Spectroscopy in Art and Archaeology (RAA 2013), 176-177, (link to the publisher), 2013.
A. Shaus, B. Sober, E. Turkel, E. Piasetzky, “Improving binarization via sparse methods”, Proceedings of the 16^th International Graphonomics Society Conference (IGS 2013), 163-166, 2013.
S. Faigenbaum, B. Sober, A. Shaus, M. Moinester, E. Piasetzky, G. Bearman, M. Cordonsky, I. Finkelstein, “Multispectral images of ostraca: Acquisition and analysis”, Journal of Archaeological Science 39.12, 3581-3590, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2012.06.013, 2012.
A. Shaus, E. Turkel, E. Piasetzky, “Binarization of First Temple period inscriptions - Performance of existing algorithms and a new registration based scheme”, Proceedings of the 13^th International Conference on Frontiers in Handwriting Recognition (ICFHR 2012), 645-650, https://doi.org/10.1109/ICFHR.2012.187, 2012.
A. Shaus, E. Turkel, E. Piasetzky, “Quality evaluation of facsimiles of Hebrew First Temple period inscriptions”, Proceedings of the 10^th IAPR International Workshop on Document Analysis Systems (DAS 2012), 170-174, https://doi.org/10.1109/DAS.2012.70, 2012.
I. Finkelstein, S. Ben Dor Evian, E. Boaretto, D. Cabanes, M. T. Cabanes, A. Eliyahu-Behar, S. Faigenbaum, Y. Gadot, D. Langgut, M. Martin, M. Meiri, D. Namdar, L. Sapir-Hen, R. Shahack-Gross, A. Shaus, B. Sober, M. Toffolo, N. Yahalom-Mack, L. Zapassky, S. Weiner, “Reconstructing ancient Israel: Integrating macro- and micro-archaeology”, Hebrew Bible and Ancient Israel 1.1, 133-150, https://doi.org/10.1628/219222712801608531, 2012.
O. Lipschits, I. Koch, A. Shaus, S. Guil, “The enigma of the biblical bath and the system of liquid volume measurement during the First Temple period”, Ugarit-Forschungen 42, 453-478, (link to the publisher), 2010.
A. Shaus, I. Finkelstein, E. Piasetzky, “Bypassing the eye of the beholder: Automated ostraca facsimile evaluation”, Maarav 17.1, 7-20, https://doi.org/10.1086/MAR201017102, 2010.