126-150 (28,983 Results)
We created a walk-up virtual reality system consisting of six large 3D TV displays with 4k resolution, for easy dissemination of spatial and three-dimensional archaeological findings. We call this system the CAVE Kiosk. The system has been placed in the campus library to make it easily accessible to the entire campus community. We currently support three types of data: regular photographs, high resolution panoramic stereo photographs, point clouds such as from LIDAR scanners, and 3D models such...
3D Digitization of Archaeological Artifatcts in Conservation (2016)
At the Conservation Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University, recent projects have all implemented some form of 3D modeling of artifacts as part of the documentation process for either before treatment, after treatment, or both. The logistics of the implementation of 3D modeling as a standard documentation technique for every artifact in a collection can be daunting, especially when dealing with untreated waterlogged artifacts that must remain wet before conservation. This paper discusses...
3D Digitization of Spindle Whorls from Pre-Contact Central Mexico (2016)
Three-dimensional digitization technology is opening up a new world of opportunities for the analysis and manipulation of artifacts without the risk of extraneous handling of the original, which could compromise preservation. This poster examines the practice of digital scanning on a collection of Mesoamerican spindle whorls at the South Florida Museum in Bradenton, Florida, discussing the hardware and software used for digitization, as well as the process of creating accurate three-dimensional...
The 3D Digitization of the World Trade Center Wreck (2017)
Accurate documentation of cultural heritage materials is the lynchpin for all aspects of archaeological investigation. When it comes to the reconstruction and interpretation of shipwrecks, this is especially true. The more accurate and true to life the documentation is, the more accurate the interpretation and reconstruction of a ship will be. The methods by which ships have been documented have evolved rapidly over the years, though each new and innovative method is tied to foundational...
A 3D Geometric Morphometric Comparison of Bone Surface Modifications on Proboscidean Assemblages from the Western Great Lakes (2019)
This is an abstract from the "Novel Statistical Techniques in Archaeology I (QUANTARCH I)" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. Currently, an alarming number of plants and animals are on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss caused by human activities and climate change. Though numerically unprecedented, this may not be the first instance of a human-driven mass extinction. For decades, scholars have hypothesized that human predation led to the...
3D Geometric Morphometrics Applied in the Identification of Canis spp. specimen from a Historic Site in Western Texas (2018)
Whiskey Flats, an archaeological site on the Llano Estacado (western Texas), is dated to the mid-18th century and represents Comanche occupation. Ongoing fieldwork has produced a vertebrate assemblage that includes coyote (Canis latrans) and a larger canid (Canis spp.) of a species that remains undetermined. The species of canids that may have been present at the time of deposition are grey wolf (C. lupus), coyote, domestic dog (C. lupus familiaris), and possibly red wolf (C. rufus). The Canis...
3D Geometric Morphometry of Western Stemmed Projectile Points from the Columbia River Plateau (2016)
We describe a digital 3D geometric morphometry approach that employs GIS-based routines to extract information about the form of Western Stemmed Tradition projectile points from sites located in the Columbia River Plateau of the Pacific Northwest. These data are used to describe a number of novel morphometric measures and to compare the design characteristics of regional early stemmed projectile points. We explore issues of artifact use, rejuvenation and repair and how these aspects can be...
3D Hydraulic Modeling of the Ancient Irrigation System at the MGK site in Xinjiang, China (2018)
Most archaeologists would agree that ancient irrigation systems preserve important information about the technology, economy, and social organization of past societies. However, considering that archaeologists generally lack training in hydraulics, it is often difficult for us to extract much information from an ancient irrigation system beyond basic description and chronology. Thanks to the recent development in drone technology and flow modeling techniques we now have the option of generating...
3D Imaging in Remote Areas, Rainforests, and Other Hostile Environments: Investigating Identity and Interaction in Eastern Honduras (2018)
Ancient eastern Honduran populations utilized foreign symbols in limited elite contexts, such as site planning and architecture, but most elements of material culture reflect clear connections to Lower Central America. Iconography seen in petroglyphs appears significantly different from that seen in other media, and may yield additional information and insights into identity formation and interactions within the region. For many reasons, these petroglyphs have not been extensively studied. While...
3D in the Toolbox: An Operational Comparison of Acoustic, Photogrammetric, and Laser Scanning Methodologies Tested at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in 2016. (2017)
The clear, fresh waters of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary offer an ideal testing ground for acoustic and light-based imaging systems. During the 2016 field season, Thunder Bay researchers conducted several field operations to acquire, process, and compare side scan sonar, multibeam sonar, laser-scanner, and photogrammetric data at numerous archaeological shipwreck sites. The resulting analysis provided valuable insights into this array of remote sensing systems in terms of their ability...
A 3D Interactive Model of Spitzkloof D Rockshelter, Namaqualand, South Africa (2021)
This is an abstract from the "SAA 2021: General Sessions" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. Archaeology is of great public interest, but a lack of approachable academic and popular materials may deter public engagement with our field and our research, meaning archaeologists must develop innovative means of communication. It is also vital that we make our work more accessible to local community members, whose history we are often excavating. Digital...
A 3D Landscape Analysis of Stelae Visibility at Copan, Honduras (2015)
From the early 5th to early 9th centuries, a dynasty of sixteen kings ruled at the ancient Maya site of Copan, Honduras. In the mid-7thth century, Chan Imix K'awiil or Ruler 12, is believed to be the first of Copan’s rulers to erect stelae outside the city’s main civic-ceremonial group. Why did he do this? Did these stelae exist as solar markers? Did they serve as territorial markers? Or, were they part of a communication system? Scholars have set forth these and other hypotheses, to explain the...
3D Laser Scanning for the digital reconstruction and analysis of a 16th Century clinker built sailing vessel (2013)
Using the Drogheda boat scaled physical model as a starting point, the following paper discusses a methodology that has been created to develop and analyse the hydrostatic and hydrodynamic characteristics of a reconstructed hull form. The physical boat model was 3D laser scanned and virtually modelled using commercially available CAD modelling software. Using boatbuilding experience, the recorded model is then "repaired", rebuilding the entire vessel, including recreating any missing...
3D Learning at Kingsley Plantation and the St. Augustine Lighthouse: Incorporating 3D Technology Into FPAN Public Archaeology Outreach (2018)
An important aspect of public archaeology efforts is the need to utilize new, innovative methods to engage a changing public. The use of 3D modeling and printing technology currently offers a novel approach to improve extant methods of public interaction. This paper discusses FPAN’s efforts to incorporate 3D technology into public outreach, especially via inclusion into curricula already in use by the network. "Investigating a Tabby Slave Cabin" and "Investigating a Light Station," part of...
A 3D Method for Measuring Platform Angles on Lithic Flakes (2017)
The measurement of platform angles on lithic flakes by hand is notoriously difficult, and is plagued by intra- and inter-observer variability. The measurement method proposed in this poster uses 3D models of flakes loaded into Blender, a free open-source 3D design program. After identifying the platform, two points (a) and (b) are defined at the intersections of the left and right lateral margins and the platform. A line (a-b) is drawn between these two points, ignoring any platform roundedness...
3D Modeling and Virtual Reality for Condition Assessments and Educational Outreach Tools Documenting Rock Art in Little Petroglyph Canyon, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California (2017)
Aerial photography with unmanned aerial systems (UASs), 3D modeling through photogrammetry, and the development of virtual reality environments are methods that are taking root within the discipline of archaeology. Developments in hardware and software over the past several years have led greater numbers of archaeologists to adopt these methods with more diverse applications. PaleoWest Archaeology, working under contract with our partners at PacArctic for Naval Facilities Engineering Command...
3D Modeling of Archaeological Collections: A Case Study in Archaeometry (2015)
Artifact collections and skeletal remains curated in multiple facilities and stored in variable conditions across the globe contain a wealth of archaeological knowledge. Access to data about these collections, much less the collections themselves, can be restricted both by policy concerns and practical considerations. Recent technological advancements have made creating high quality digital representations of both artifact and skeletal material possible. In this paper we compare two methods of...
3D Modeling the Sites of the Virgin Branch Ancestral Puebloan with Photogrammetry and BIM (2017)
On the Shivwits Plateau, there is scarce information concerning how the Virgin Branch Ancestral Puebloan people constructed their pueblos. This is a result of post-depositional processes that have destroyed much of the building materials. To overcome this hurdle, 3D Building Information Modeling (BIM) is allowing archaeologists to reconstruct these ancient structures digitally. These digital 3D models output volumetric data that are used to estimate material quantities, labor investments, and to...
3D Modeling – Breakthrough or Fad? Bronze Age Towers in Oman and Excavations of an Aksumite Town in Ethiopia (2015)
Three-Dimensional modeling is rapidly transforming reconstruction, visualization and conceptualization of ancient architecture. Many archaeologists are enthusiastic about 3D modeling and implementation of 3D methodologies has been rapid; others remain skeptical that the outcomes of 3D modeling justify the time and resources expended. This paper considers the strengths, weaknesses, and future prospects of 3D models. We discuss results of two projects that used photogrammetry and advanced GPS to...
3D Modelling and Interactive Mapping of Historic Shipwreck Sites (2013)
Recent developments in technology have made the process of recording terrestrial archaeological sites a much more digital affair. The same can now be said for underwater historical sites such as shipwrecks. This paper will explore through a number of UK and US projects carried out during 2012, showing how shipwrecks can be mapped and modelled in 3D, the process involved, and the exciting public outreach formats that can be created. From web based interactive 3D shipwreck tours, to game-engine...
3D Models of Artifacts from the Lone Rock Stockade (2023)
This is an abstract from the session entitled "I Know What You Did Last Summer: Student Contributions at Field Schools", at the 2023 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. Starting in the late 19th century, the Tennessee State Penitentiary leased convicts for work in a private coal mine in Tracy City, Tennessee. Most laborers were black men who were either falsely convicted or arrested based on racially biased laws. Those incarcerated in Tracy City were part of a larger...
3D Models of Small Artifacts: A Visual Workflow of the Structure-from-Motion Photography of Pottery Sherds and Vessels (2023)
This is an abstract from the "SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. This presentation consists of video demonstrations with live commentary in which the author describes how to create 3D models of small ceramic artifacts using structure-from-motion photography (photogrammetry). In particular, the focus will be on troubleshooting common issues that arise during model generation of sherds and fragmentary and complete...
3D or 2-1/2D? Comparing 3D Photogrammetry And Reflectance Transformation Imaging (2019)
This is an abstract from the "Towards a Standardization of Photogrammetric Methods in Archaeology: A Conversation about 'Best Practices' in An Emerging Methodology" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. 3D photogrammetry, creating digital 3D models using multiple photographs, has become a popular tool for documenting, analyzing and sharing archaeological artifacts and sites. In some cases, though, Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) can be a useful...
3D Photogrammetry and GIS for Tracking Edge Wear Accumulation in Lithic Experiments (2015)
Digital photogrammetry is fast becoming a popular method for 3D landscape, feature, and object modelling. The ease with which photogrammetrically-derived models may be analyzed with conventional GIS software has streamlined archaeological landscape analysis. These same tools are eminently scaleable, facilitating comparable analyses of much smaller surfaces: those of lithic artifacts. Using 3D digital photogrammetry and GIS software, I propose a method to locate, define, and quantify edge damage...
3D Photogrammetry and Woodland Mud Glyphs from 19th Unnamed Cave, Alabama (2019)
This is an abstract from the "Technique and Interpretation in the Archaeology of Rock Art" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. The production of 3D models with photogrammetry has seen some recent application in rock art studies as a means of documenting sites and presenting them to the public. However, the use of photogrammetric models as data sources for discovery and analysis has received little attention. In this paper, we present work at 19th...