Cataloging Cave Features in the Southern Pacbitun Regional Archaeological Project using Virtual Reality and 3D Modeling

Summary

Since 2010, a major focus of the Pacbitun Regional Archaeological project has been a regional ritual landscape survey surrounding. In 2016, Phase II of that subproject commenced, with significant efforts geared towards experimenting with digital mapping and documentation of surface archaeological features in four poorly understood caves, Crystal Palace, Slate Cave, Tzul’s Cave, and Actun Tokbe. In this paper, we discuss our work and offer some results from our Phase II investigations. In 2016, our efforts were geared toward excavations, tape-and-compass mapping, and photogrammetry experimentation in Slate and Crystal Palace Caves. In the 2017 field season, we cataloged all surface features in Crystal Palace, explored and mapped a small sealed passage in Tzul’s Cave, and mapped and cataloged a significant portion of Actun Tokbe, through the use of photogrammetry. Combining the photogrammetric and mapping data with a virtual reality model of the caves provides a robust visualization system allowing remote study of the environment. The resultant "Mapping Grade Models" allow for the rapid inventory, yet detailed mapping of the surface, freeing time for more fieldwork. Such digital documentation relies on careful data organization and backup, annotation of models via coding or other means, and significant time for post-processing data.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

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

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 21153