While documenting material looted in recent decades, databases of Middle Eastern archaeological artifacts are also shedding light on the lives of ancient rulers and poets as well as the Europeans and Americans who dug at historic sites nearly a century ago.

One of the most comprehensive efforts, the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative, has posted images and searchable transcripts for more than 100,000 clay tablets, stone cylinders used to imprint personal seals and other objects inscribed with writing.

[www.nytimes.com]