Model Dialogues: 3D models as active resources – an experiment in data enrichment of 3D modelled lithic artefacts

Abstract: This thesis seeks to explore the potential for 3D archaeological datasets to become the ‘living resources’ advocated by Morgan and Wright (2018). This process is examined through lenses of object agency, object biography, Chaîne opératoire, formation processes and posthumanist theory with an aim to assess the capacity of digital approaches for enabling the self-reflexive ‘slow archaeology’ idealised by Caraher (2016). Finally, an analysis of the tensions between digital and traditional illustrative means was explored alongside considerations of data standardisation and metadata frameworks. The explicit questions this thesis seeks to answer are, what datasets can be used to enrich a 3D mesh? how does this palimpsest approach impact data analysis and interaction? can we identify the best practices for this approach? and can we identify broader considerations for future research? The sample material used to explore these issues was a Mesolithic Core Axe currently held within the Lund University Teaching Collection within the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History. This was digitised using photogrammetric methods with the diverse theoretical issues mentioned previously used to identify information that could be utilised to ‘enrich’ the digital artefact in the form of multiple visual models. A hand-drawing was carried out to traditional conventions and projected onto the mesh as a new texture, and the illustrative tools and features of Agisoft Metashape, Meshlab and Blender were compared. The latter part of this research process involves an attempt to synthesise the various concerns above into a coherent and functional 3DHOP output before analysis and reflection of the chosen approaches is carried out. Keywords: Digitisation, Visualisation, Illustration, Slow Archaeology, Photogrammetry, Digital Archaeology, Agisoft Metashape, Meshlab, Blender, 3DHOP, Metadata, Formation Processes, Use-Wear Analysis, Chaîne opératoire