On introducing an image-based 3D reconstruction method in archaeological excavation practice (original) (raw)

Some problems in archaeological excavation 3D Modelling

Photogrametry has been used in archaeology for the recording of complex structures. Therefore, the use of those techniques is more frequent in medieval and classic archaeologies. In those cases the presence of buildings and architectonics makes profitable going beyond the traditional paper and pencil approach. For prehistoric sites, traditional hand drawing is still the most profitable approach. Elements and structures to be drawn are geometrically quite simple, and the problems are more on the complexity of stratigraphic and sedimentary aspects, than in buildings, walls or floors. In this paper, we explain how to use digital photography in prehistoric excavations, how to modify those pictures to adequately represent the archaeological record, and how to build geometric models from photographs. Our final goal is to build a geometric and dynamic model of the site, in order to explain not its architectonic complexity, but taphonomy and the site formation process.

The integration of 3D technology for the conservation and restoration of ruined archaeological artifacts

History of science and technology

The restoration and conservation of monuments and archaeological sites is a delicate operation. It requires fidelity, delicacy, precision and archaeological authenticity. The aim is to reveal, recreate as accurately as possible the characteristics of an archaeological site or part of it. Research during the last two decades has proved that 3D modeling, or the digital documentation and visualization of archaeological objects in 3D, is valuable for archaeological research. As well, as for conservation and presentation to a wide audience, as it allows the creation of realistic and accurate digital copies of archaeological objects. In the past, 3D modeling technologies were prohibitively expensive and too technologically specialized to be integrated into most historical heritage projects. However, advancements in computing and digital photography over the past decade have resulted in several low-cost, user-friendly options for 3D modeling, using photogrammetry. The latter has been used ...

3D Models in archaeological excavations

2015

3D models have been used in archaeology for more than a hundred years. They allow archaeologists to virtually revisit places that are now lost. 21st century 3D models provide archaeologists with several advantages in comparison to traditional documentation. This paper will be an introduction in modern technologies that are used to create 3D models in modern-day field archaeology, as well as the theoretical implications they have.

The MURALE project: Image-based 3D modeling for archaeology

2002

MURALE is a European IST project that will develop 3D capture and visualisation technology for archaeology. The project will put special emphasis on the usability on the site, by the archaeologists themselves. The paper describes techniques that are being developed by three of the MURALE partners in particular. These comprise two methods to generate 3D models of objects, and approaches to deal with the textures of materials and terrain.

Guidi, G. Russo, M., Angheleddu, D., 2013. Digital reconstruction of an archaeological site based on the integration of 3d data and historical sources

Proceedings of 5th International Workshop on 3D Virtual Reconstruction and Visualization of Complex Architectures (3D-ARCH 2013), 2013

The methodology proposed in this paper in based on an integrated approach for creating a 3D digital reconstruction of an archaeological site, using extensively the 3D documentation of the site in its current state, followed by an iterative interaction between archaeologists and digital modelers, leading to a progressive refinement of the reconstructive hypotheses. The starting point of the method is the reality-based model, which, together with ancient drawings and documents, is used for generating the first reconstructive step. Such rough approximation of a possible architectural structure can be annotated through archaeological considerations that has to be confronted with geometrical constraints, producing a reduction of the reconstructive hypotheses to a limited set, each one to be archaeologically evaluated. This refinement loop on the reconstructive choices is iterated until the result become convincing by both points of view, integrating in the best way all the available sources. The proposed method has been verified on the ruins of five temples in the My Son site, a wide archaeological area located in central Vietnam. The integration of 3D surveyed data and historical documentation has allowed to support a digital reconstruction of not existing architectures, developing their three-dimensional digital models step by step, from rough shapes to highly sophisticate virtual prototypes.