3D RECONSTRUCTION AND IMAGE PROCESSING OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS

Abstract. A wide variety of methods are used in archaeological research today, including 3D imaging techniques (photogrammetry) which are involved at different stages starting from explorations preceding excavation to multiple studies. The archaeologically obtained material includes anthropological findings, among which odontological (related to human teeth) are of interest as they are composed of resistible tissues (hence are preserved well) and can serve for biological as well as historical interpretations. However, among the methods employed in odontological studies some are destructive and bring to unwelcome irreversible changes or even complete loss of the analysed samples. However, the existing and rapidly-developing techniques, especially, referring to 3D imaging and prototyping, suggest different approaches which can facilitate avoiding undesirable consequences of invasive methods of research. Thus they can provide for either preservation of findings through development and application of non-invasive study techniques, or, at least, preserve data referring the findings which have to be destroyed in order to receive valuable, in terms of research, information. It is shown on the example of the studied mandibular fragment from the Early Bronze archaeological site of Shengavit how multidisciplinary cooperation and the described workflow contribute to preservation of information regarding the finding and possible restoration of its original features. An effective communication between different professionals was provided due to implementing non-contact measurements techniques, obtaining and processing 3D images and 3D printing.