A 3D Interactive Model of Spitzkloof D Rockshelter, Namaqualand, South Africa

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2021: General Sessions" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Archaeology is of great public interest, but a lack of approachable academic and popular materials may deter public engagement with our field and our research, meaning archaeologists must develop innovative means of communication. It is also vital that we make our work more accessible to local community members, whose history we are often excavating. Digital reproduction of archaeological sites through photogrammetry is a valuable documentative and educational tool that is easily accessible and engaging. We present photogrammetry results of the Spitzkloof D Rockshelter located in Namaqualand, South Africa, data for which was collected during the 2019 field season. Over 400 points were designated in and around the site, and their cartesian coordinates recorded using a Nikon Nivo 5M total station. The rockshelter was then photographed using a Sony a6400 camera, and the resulting images georectified using the program Agisoft Metashape. Using this information, we generated a 3D model of the rockshelter, the excavated units, and the immediate landscape. The ability to remotely view a relatively inaccessible site such as Spitzkloof D provides an opportunity to better present visual representations to the general public and local community members. Initiatives like these may be crucial in building and strengthening local relationships.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 86th Annual Meeting, Online (2021)   •
• SAA 2021: General Sessions

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 32883