A Case Study in the Use of 3D Modeling for Hypothesis Generation and General Archaeological Illustration

Summary

Three-dimensional modeling has become increasingly common within the field of archaeology as relevant software has become more accessible and digital media more prevalent. Despite this increase in use, the ultimate utility of the method is often debated, even by its practitioners. This poster explores the practical applications of 3D modeling along two avenues: as a process for developing hypotheses and expectations during the excavation of architectural contexts, and as a tool for use alongside conventional archaeological illustration. The excavation of a Pueblo IV field house, commenced in 2017 by the University of New Mexico field school, is used as a case study. The process of building a 3D model based upon partial excavation and comparative research is described, and the outcomes of the study in terms of enhancing learning and hypothesis construction are reviewed. Presentation of resulting models produced in the digital software program Blender are then juxtaposed with traditional archaeological illustration and the benefits and drawbacks of employing each method for this purpose are discussed.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 20302