Roland Degeest

3D MURALE: a multimedia system for archaeology

This paper introduces the 3D Measurement and Virtual Reconstruction of Ancient Lost Worlds of Europe system (3D MURALE). It consists of a set of tools for recording, reconstructing, encoding, visualising and database searching/querying that operate on buildings, building parts, statues, statue parts, pottery, stratigraphy, terrain geometry and texture and material texture. The tools are loosely linked together by a common database on which they all have the facility to store and access data. The paper describes the overall architecture of the 3D MURALE system and then briefly describes the functionality of the tools provided by the project. The paper compares the multimedia studio architecture adopted in this project with other multimedia studio architectures.

A real time 3D stratigraphic visual simulation system for archaeological analysis and hypothesis testing

During an archaeological dig, a great deal of data relating to stratigraphic positioning (SP) is recorded. This data is recorded in a variety of different formats, individual excavation logbooks, stratigraphy forms, and in theodolite measurements. The widely used archaeological practice of analysis and representation of SP is the Harris Matrix approach [1]. This is a valuable technique to analyse and compare 2D SP data, now with the advent of cheap and powerful 3D computing, there is a growing need for the archaeologist on site to test hypotheses and gain immediate results. The 3D representation and analysis of this SP data, with the ability to perform real-time hypotheses without prolonged sifting through hard copies of excavation logbooks presents a real innovation to future archaeological interpretation. This paper details the benefits, requirements and pitfalls of visualizing stratigraphy with this new SP tool.

A distributed universal 3D cyberworld for archaeological research and education

The scientific results of global archaeological excavations often take the form of books and papers, and on occasion, web sites and digital media. However, a large amount of the raw recorded data remains inaccessible to wider audiences. This paper proposes the development of a universal archaeological system that unites archaeological recordings from diverse sites, making easier the process of dissemination to both the wider public and the analysis and comparison of this data by the scientific community, enabling a more informed interpretation of our past. This is accomplished through a 3D cyber-world constructed from a variable level of detailed recordings from archaeological sites.