TURATH: An AI Platform for Transcribing, Translating, and Indexing Historical Handwritten Archives

Abstract

TURATH (Arabic: تراث, “heritage”) is an open-access web platform that combines large language models with domain-specific glossaries, structured extraction schemas, and human-in-the-loop review to transcribe, translate, and index historical handwritten documents. TURATH allows researchers to configure a collection-specific AI reader by providing annotated examples from their collection. The system then generates a tailored configuration—including prompts, glossaries, and output schemas specific to the collection—designed to support transcription of collection-specific language and terminology. The platform has been tested with Arabic, French, and English manuscripts and applied to collections spanning 1910–1960, including archaeological excavation diaries, business correspondence, and personal recipe notebooks. A live demonstration is available at https://turath.app. A video walkthrough is available at https://youtu.be/Bh8mbKYgji4.