4D visualisation of an archaeological site: A case study from the Upper Paleolithic site of Milovice IV, Czech Republic

Abstract

The paper discusses using three-dimensional (3D) models in archaeological research and their combination for four-dimensional (4D) visualisation. The acquisition of 3D models during an archaeological excavation provides high-accuracy records of sites, entire find situations, and individual archaeological features or finds, allowing for their further exploration, study, and analysis at any time. When combined with GIS, 3D models can allow spatial and volumetric analyses, revealing site formation processes. With time as an additional dimension, their combination can also allow site reconstruction and spatio-temporal analysis, providing a perspective on the diachronic evolution of the site. Such use, in the sense of 4D visualisation, can markedly enhance the interpretation of archaeological data. The case study focuses on the multi-layered Upper Paleolithic site of Milovice IV in the Pavlov Hills region of South Moravia, Czech Republic, where 3D data recording was incorporated into the excavation processes. The paper evaluates the effectiveness of 4D mosaics delivered by merging separate 3D models. It turns out that 4D site-scale mosaics, obtained by merging separate models, encounter certain obstacles and are unsuitable for detailed visualisation and interpretation. Conversely, small-(excavation squares)-scale 4D mosaics can more vividly demonstrate the diachronic development of a site, the spatio-temporal relationships between artefacts, and the fieldwork workflow. It is also apparent that the 2D presentation of 4D models has limitations, and thus, other forms of presentation, kept within the virtual space, could better utilise all the benefits of spatiotemporal visualisations.