Big Picture, Little Picture: Reconstructing Rock Art and Context in Both the Virtual and Physical Word

Summary

This presentation explores the ways in which 3D reconstruction can succeed as an innovative platform for both archaeological study and public engagement using a case study from the Hiwassee River watershed, North Carolina. The project, initiated by the Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO), Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), involves an effort to repair a vandalized petroglyph panel. The rock art panel is a complex composition of incised, interwoven petroglyphs from which a 1.5 m section was removed and carried off-site. The removed section was recently returned to the EBCI, and it was decided that an effort should be made to restore the panel to it's original location. Photogrammetric 3D reconstruction was selected as the best method to non-invasively model repair efforts, and also provided a unique opportunity to study the petroglyph forms, and provide the basis for an interactive experience for members of the EBCI community.

Rock art sites and panels make a natural pairing with 3D reconstruction for archaeology, because the study of rock art requires visual and spatial analyses. Additionally, the visually striking, and often enigmatic, nature of rock art generates much public interest--making it an excellent vehicle for public archaeology and interactive virtual reality projects.

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): 22481