Resolution and Quality Issues in 3D Analysis of Inscribed Signs: An Example from Cypro-Minoan Inscriptions

A recurrent demand in many archaeological digital documentation systems is the need for an accurate as possible registration of data. Somehow, contrary to this request, are efforts led by various computer science groups dealing with 3D documentation and focusing on developing fast and cheap solutions to record 3D models of archaeological assets. The aim of the article is to highlight the importance of aligning the 3D documentation strategy to the archaeological aims, by detailing all factors to be considered when deciding on one documentation strategy over another. The archaeological question discussed here, part of the PhD thesis of one of the co-authors (MP), relates to the Cypro-Minoan signatory and its diachronic variability. The 3D geometric characterization of signs and subsequent shape analysis is the method chosen to reach this goal. A major effort to be invested in correctly determining the shape and variability of each sign, is in assuring that the 3D captured shape is as close as possible to the archaeological reality, which is a common problem not only in palaeographical analysis but also in other fields, where features of interest are in the sub-millimetre range. The paper will illustrate how different data acquisition approaches and post-processing steps such as alignment methods and error treatment may distort the visualised result and thus have a negative impact on planned analysis. Thus, it will argue for the importance of more detailed paradata to allow an informed assessment of the reliability of 3D models and it proposes a list of values and decision-making steps that help make the 3D digitization process more robust and verifiable.

From 2D and 3D documentation to 4D interpretation. Building archaeological conclusions and workflow strategies gained by remote study of Insula V 1, Pompeii

The text describes new methods elaborated for and used in the building archaeological assessment of a city block, studied first on site, then remotely by members of the Swedish Pompeii Project. Use of a digital platform, with collected wall observations and analysis, systematic photographic documentation of all standing structures, and 3D models, allowed discussion to proceed after the fieldwork came to an end. The models provided new possibilities and new angles of approach, e.g. examining walls at any given point, studying boundary walls as wall-strings in their full extent, allowing all kinds of sectioning at will, introducing bird’s-eye views as a new perspective in study, and measuring wherever needed. The joint results obtained are summed up in a four-phase development of the use of space: the earliest structures; the late Samnite building boom (2nd century BC); the colony (second half of 1st century BC); the imperial era (until AD 79). This narrative includes conclusions concerning building process and development of masonry techniques and on changes in way of life. Many results affect Pompeian archaeology in general. Results of particular importance concern the character of the early plot division and the understanding of the building process creating the double-atrium house of Caecilius Iucundus, including an anchorage in time for this creation in the Claudian period. The relatively small impact in terms of damage that may be ascribed the literary recorded earthquake of AD 62/63 is also worth noting. The text ends with a suggestion of a new workflow for insula studies.

ACCURATE 3D RECONSTRUCTION USING A VIDEOGRAMMETRIC DEVICE FOR HERITAGE SCENARIOS

In recent years, handheld laser scanning systems have been developed for documenting architectural heritage, among other applications. In this article we present a new alternative for the 3D documentation of historical heritage based on videogrammetry. For this purpose, a prototype has been designed with two cameras, a high resolution camera and a VGA camera which, when connected to a tablet, allow the user to establish a guidance system to ensure that the trajectory is not lost and enables highly flexible and long-lasting movements over time. This paper unveils the operation of the filtering and image selection system to finally proceed to an evaluation of the prototype in three areas of an archaeological site, called “Casa del Mitreo” in the city of Mérida (Spain). The results are compared to the Faro Focus 3D X330 laser scanner, yielding very similar accuracies and a capture time about 17 times faster than the 3D laser scanner. The article therefore proposes a real alternative to 3D data acquisition systems in applications for the graphic documentation of architectural and archaeological heritage.

SPATIAL 3D DOCUMENTATION OF HISTORICAL MINING REMNANTS IN FORESTED AREA IN THE ERZGEBIRGE/KRUŠNOHOŘÍ MINING REGION UNESCO SITE

This contribution deals in the possibilities of 3D documentation of historical mining relicts hidden in the forest. On the Czech – German border, in the Ore Mountains, several historical mining relicts are located there. There are interesting underground spaces (historical mines), some of which have recently been made available for visits by tourists. But there are many relicts on the surface that are linked to mining and are not known or on the fringes of interest. These are mining pits, dumps, water works, remains of buildings and historic entrance roads. Many of them are in forest areas, were not documented or archaeologically explored, and have recently been devastated by amateur collectors equipped with metal detectors who unfortunately destroy unexplored localities to find interesting relicts. For the basic documentation and delimitation of these objects, aerial laser scanning (ALS) and personal laser mobile scanning (PLS) were used; some finds were documented by close-range photogrammetry.

Procedures Experiments using Photogrammetric Method

Tangible objects are actual objects that can be touched and have a physical form. Therefore, the existence of tangible objects cannot be separated from the potential of damage and even disappearance. At the same time, tangible objects can be an essential source of research and can be a historical source that needs to be preserved. With the development of technology, objects can be recorded in digital forms, 2D Documentation, such as photos and videos, and increasingly sophisticated technology makes object recording developed in 3D Documentation. An easy method with good data quality results is photogrammetric. The implementation of the photogrammetric method has many advantages, some of which are straightforward procedures, portable equipment, and relatively low prices. This study uses a qualitative method based on photogrammetric experiments with various lighting settings and different needs. The results of this research are trying to breakdown of photogrammetric procedures that can applied according to field conditions.

DIGITAL TWIN AND 3D DOCUMENTATION OF A THEBAN TOMB AT DEIR AL-MEDINA (EGYPT) USING A MULTI-LENSES PHOTOGRAMMETRIC APPROACH

This paper describes the methodology employed in 2020 to perform the 3D survey of the Tomb TT214 at Deir al-Medina (Egypt). The aim of the archaeological mission was to integrate the evidence collected in the past on this tomb with a fresh survey a detailed study of some of its elements and an evaluation of its needs in terms of conservation. In order to achieve this result, the collapse that blocked the entrance to the burial chamber had to be removed, the courtyard was cleared, and the decorated walls and blocks were inspected and surveyed. Digital imaging was used to document all these phases and portions of the work. The aim of the survey team was to identify the most efficient combination of tools and methods to be used during these logistically complex operations, during which it was necessary to coordinate the work of various specialists and of the workmen, as well as to negotiate with the environmental difficulties and constrains. The survey was conducted at two scales, one for the architecture of the funerary complex and one for minute details such as inscriptions and decorations. Beside the routine process, both sets of data underwent a further level of elaboration, in order to extract and highlight further information. The final result of the survey was a navigable 3D model able to produce different outputs, all designed to support the archaeologists on the field and during the post-fieldwork phase of the elaboration of the results. The elaboration of such an integrated model may be paired to the progressive construction of a Digital Twin, a term born from the manufacturing and industrial realm but that may be successfully exported into the archaeological realm.

STUDY ON QUALITY IN 3D DIGITISATION OF TANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE

Following the action plan implementation of the Virtual Multimodal Museum (ViMM) project, which finished in March 2019, the European Commission issued a Declaration on Cooperation on Advancing Digitisation of Cultural Heritage during the Digital Day in April 2019. One year later, in April 2020, the European Commission (EC) launched a call for tenders to develop a Study on quality in 3D digitisation of tangible cultural heritage (the Study), thus responding to the increasing demand for internationally recognised standards for the holistic 3D documentation of Europe’s rich cultural heritage (CH). To address this lack of standards, the Study aims to map parameters, formats, standards, benchmarks, methodologies and guidelines, relating to 3D digitisation of tangible cultural heritage, to the different potential purposes or uses, by type of tangible cultural heritage, and by degree of complexity of tangible cultural heritage. A team of researchers at the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) is leading a consortium of partners from industry and academia across Europe to conduct this unique Study. This work in progress paper introduces the objectives and methodology of the Study, as well as presenting some of its first results.

Zdroje a šíření vybraných komodit keramické produkce vrcholného a pozdního středověku

The publication is focused on late medieval pottery products with higher aesthetical effect. The key group is represented by stove tiles, where the unifying elements of relief decoration helped to define series of motifs for stoves with specific iconographic concept, which were found in various locations. The same approach can be also used with small ceramic sculptures, aquamaniles and relief-decorated floor tiles, even though the achieved information value in these cases is much lower. Micropetrographic, XRF and other analyses helped to identify the production centres and the distribution model of these ceramic groups. 3D documentation enabled a detailed comparison of differences between individual reliefs and specific traces of manufacturing procedures. Individual chapters contain active links to the source database of analysed items and to 3D models of selected specimens from reference collections.