3DVisA Resources

3DVisA Index of 3D Projects: Archaeology

Virtual Reconstruction of a 7th-Century Grecian Cup

The original terracotta cup of East Greek origin is housed in the Museum of the Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity of the University of Birmingham. It is tentatively dated to c. 625-600 BC and is believed to come from a burial site on Rhodes. Its form, a flat bowl on a stem, and the so-called 'Wild Goat Style' decoration of circular patterns both suggest that it could have been intended, and possibly used as a model for a cast bronze vessel. (Dimensions: ?)

The cup was scanned in 3D using a Wicks & Wilson Triform laser scanner. The resulting images were processed in Polyworks software and a VRML model of the cup was created. This provided a basis for making a plastic model first, then a silicone rubber mould for bronze casting. Traditional techniques of lost-wax and investment casting were applied to ensure high level of detail. The bronze cast was presented to Vice Chancellor of the University of Birmingham, Professor Michael Sterling on 12 March 2003. The event marked the opening of the HP VISTA Centre and the Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity of the University of Birmingham.

Project dates: Completed 2003

Resource status: 3D digital model is stored at the HP VISTA Centre and the Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity; the bronze cast is housed at the Museum of the Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity of the University of Birmingham.

Contributors: Helen Gaffney et al., HP Visual and Spatial Technology Centre, Archaeological Computing Division, Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity, University of Birmingham, UK; Mark Jolly, Department of Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham, UK; Gillian Shepherd, The Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity, the University of Birmingham, UK.

Sources and further details: Gaffney, H. (date?), Digitising the Past: Reconstructing a 7th-Century BC Grecian Cup; More about this project at the Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity of the University of Birmingham pages.

Record compiled by ABK. Last updated: 11 September 2006.