Three-dimensional Visualization in Archaeological Research: A Correlational Study | Sibirskie Istoricheskie Issledovaniia – Siberian Historical Research. 2022. № 3. DOI: 10.17223/2312461X/37/9

Three-dimensional Visualization in Archaeological Research: A Correlational Study

The three most common ways of visualizing artefacts that are currently available are: a technical drawing, a photograph and three-dimensional modeling. In addition to documenting archaeological artefacts, the illustrations produced by each method can provide specific scientific data. The article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the mentioned types of visualisation of archaeological material in the context of archaeological research. The 3D model obtained by scanning with a structured light scanner; the high-quality photograph (stacking by focus) and the technical drawing made by a professional artist were subjected to a comparative analysis. The study is based on illustrations of Middle Paleolithic bifacial tools from Chagyrskaya Cave (Altai) and Middle Paleolithic cores from Kulbulak site (Tien Shan), bone tools with slots from Kazachka site (Kansk-Rybinsk Basin). We made a comparison according to the following parameters: the time it takes to create one image, the use of additional software and its cost, the cost of the necessary equipment, the skills required to perform the different methods. Additional comparisons were also made with the drawing, photograph and 3D model as a basis for further technological and morphological research (scar pattern analysis, geometric-morphometric analysis, technical details) and the quality of the provided information (possibility of measurement or high-precision metric studies). As a result, we were able to identify the advantages and disadvantages of each type of image for different scientific research. We expect that because of the gradual cheapening of the method, the rapidity of learning and the great possibilities for extracting scientific data, illustrations obtained by 3D structural light scanning will be widespread in scientific research in the near future. The authors declare no conflicts of interests.

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Keywords

focus stacking, 3D model, photography, technical drawing, visualization, archaeology

Authors

Name	Organization	E-mail
Bocharova Ekaterina N.	Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences	bocharova.e@gmail.com
Chistyakov Pavel V.	Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences	pavelchist@gmail.com
Zhdanov Ravil K.	Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences	rav@xarg.org
Kolobova Kseniya A.	Institute of Archeology and Ethnography of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences	kolobovak@yandex.ru

Всего: 4

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