Methods for developing 3D visualizations of archaeological data: a case study of the early bronze age Helike Corridor House

• Main Authors: Mariza Kormann, Dora Katsonopoulou, Stella Katsarou, Gary Lock
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2017-12-01
• Series: Science and Technology of Archaeological Research
• Subjects: Helike Corridor House; Digital Helike Project; visualization; structural integrity; geo-referenced 3D model; open data; open access
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2017.1372934

The Digital Helike Project aims at the digitization of archaeological data from the Helike Project, Achaia, Greece. This paper advances understanding of Early Bronze Age house building techniques with focus on corridor houses. The Helike Corridor House is a fine example of an architectural style of the Early Helladic period EH II/Early EH III on the Greek mainland and it is used here as a case study. A methodology for 3D reconstruction is described supporting both structural integrity simulations and advanced visualization studies. The paper focuses on three aspects: firstly, it highlights technological innovations in the Bronze Age period by drawing attention to structural integrity studies recently carried out by the research team; secondly, it describes a methodology for building fully geo-referenced 3D models supporting structural integrity studies and visualization on GIS-Geographic Information Systems; and thirdly, it leads to the universal access of data and visualization over the Internet through the selection of appropriate open source, open standards and freely available tools and applications. The methodologies proposed here deepen insights on archaeological data enabling new inferences and knowledge to be gained through the implementation of universally shared low cost applications.