Artifact Photogrammetry

 

Other Archaeological Photogrammetry areas:

In 1996, with support from a grant by the National Center for Preservation Technologies and Training, CAST conducted  research to develop an easy and inexpensive method to generate 35mm stereo photographs of archaeological artifacts from which three-dimensional measurements can be extracted using a digital (or softcopy) photogrammetry workstation.  A complete copy of the final report in PDF format is available here or to see the table of contents of the report go here.

As part of this effort, photographic and photogrammetric issues were addressed so as to identify the conditions necessary to create photographs suitable for a softcopy photogrammetry system. In particular, various lighting systems and film types were tested, as well as mechanisms to control camera movements and to create a "virtual" three-dimensional reference (coordinate) system around the objects photographed.

Results obtained with this method proved comparable in accuracy and consistency to those taken manually by archaeologists when small to medium-sized objects are considered (e.g. arrowheads and beads). For larger objects, such as pots, the error introduced in depth measurements, by non-calibrated standard 35mm cameras proved larger. This can, however, be remedied by taking photographs from several angles.

Such a method could have a significant impact in data collection efforts where one is able to view an object in 3-D even when the latter is no longer available. Federal and state organizations responsible under NAGPRA for the return artifacts to Native American groups could definitively benefit from using this method.

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Download the project's final report in PDF format