The Sierra Sur in 3D: Benefits of Photogrammetry and 3D Printing for Archaeological Research in Remote Regions

Summary

Researchers working in the Sierra Sur region of Oaxaca, Mexico are often documenting sites that have not yet been studied by western scholars. 3D modeling (via photogrammetry) and 3D printing is a quick and low cost way we can begin sharing this new information with other scholars and the public, while simultaneously enhancing the documentation of archaeological landscapes and artifacts. In the 2016 field season of Proyecto Arqueológico de Quiechapa (PAQuie), we pilot tested the use of low cost photogrammetry and 3D printing at several scales of analysis. In this paper, I will present the benefits of adding photogrammetry and 3D printing to field research. In particular, I will discuss using (1) UAV (drone) photography to create 3D models of sites and landscapes, (2) still photos to create 3D models of artifacts, rock carvings, and landscape features, and (3) the merits of having 3D prints of those models. These methods are particularly conducive to fast and easy sharing of information; facilitating collaboration and communication between scholars working in this region and beyond.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Mountain Towns and Crossroads: Archaeology of the Sierra Sur of Oaxaca, Mexico

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 14590