Abstract
Abstract. For six years, an interdisciplinary team of archaeologists, surveyors, environmentalists and archaeometrists have jointly carried out the study of a Bronze Age painted cave, registrered in the French Historical Monuments. The archaeological cave of Les Fraux (Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas, Dordogne) forms a wide network of galleries, characterized by the exceptional richness of its archaeological remains such as ceramic and metal deposits, parietal representation and about domestic fireplaces. This cave is the only protohistorical site in Europe wherein are gathered testimonies of domestic, spiritual and artistic activities. Fortunately, the cave was closed at the end of the Bronze Age, following to the collapse of its entrance. The site was re-discovered in 1989 and its study started in 2007. The study in progress takes place in a new kind of tool founded by the CNRS's Institute of Ecology and Environment. The purpose of this observatory is the promotion of new methodologies and experimental studies in Global Ecology. In that framework, 3D models of the cave constitute the common work support and the best way for scientific communication for the various studies conducted on the site by nearly forty researchers. In this specific context, a partnership among archaeologists and surveyors from INSA Strasbourg allows the team to develop, in an interdisciplinary way, new methods of data acquiring based on contact-free measurements techniques in order to acquire a full 3D-documentation. This work is conducted in compliance with the integrity of the site. Different techniques based on Terrestrial Laser Scanning, Digital Photogrammetry and Spatial Imaging System have been used in order to generate a geometric and photorealistic 3D model from the combination of point clouds and photogrammetric images, for both visualization and accurate documentation purposes. Various scales of acquiring and diverse resolutions have been applied according to the subject: global volume cave, parietal representations, deposits… The aim of this paper is to issue a statement of the different 3D technologies tested in this outstanding site and the integration of magnetic measurements in the models.
Highlights
This paper deals with 3D reconstruction and visualization of the exceptional heritage site « les Fraux » in which new methods of data acquiring based on contact-free measurements techniques have been improved in order to acquire a full 3D-documentation without damaging this underground anthropic network, registered in the French Historical Monuments
The Bronze Age cave “Les Fraux”, located at Saint-Martin-deFressengeas (Dordogne, France), is the only protohistorical site in Europe wherein are gathered testimonies of domestic, symbolic and artistic activities
International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XL-5/W2, 2013 XXIV International CIPA Symposium, 2 – 6 September 2013, Strasbourg, France dir.). The purpose of this observatory is the promotion of new methodologies and experimental studies in Global Ecology and the analysis of interactions of Bronze Age societies with their environment
Summary
This paper deals with 3D reconstruction and visualization of the exceptional heritage site « les Fraux » in which new methods of data acquiring based on contact-free measurements techniques have been improved in order to acquire a full 3D-documentation without damaging this underground anthropic network, registered in the French Historical Monuments. The purpose is to present experiences and a selection of results gained during the recording of the cave. In this study we propose to explain the recording methodology applied on this site for six years, as part of a interdisciplinary and multiscale approach. Main methodological key issues faced will be exposed. The Bronze Age cave “Les Fraux”, located at Saint-Martin-deFressengeas (Dordogne, France), is the only protohistorical site in Europe wherein are gathered testimonies of domestic, symbolic and artistic activities (schematics and geometrics lines drawn in the clay covering the walls). The site has been settled during nearly 3 centuries
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