Archaeology in Three Dimensions: Computer-Based Methods in Archaeological Research

This article reviews the activities at the Computerized Archaeology Laboratory at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where techniques and ideas from computer science (e.g., computer graphics, machine learning, etc.) are integrated into archaeological research methodologies. The laboratory operates optical scanners which provide 3D digital models that are then analyzed by computer programs developed in-house. These programs address research issues and needs which could not be tackled without the availability of digital 3D models, thus broadening the horizons of archaeological research. To date, these methods and applications have been applied successfully to more than 30,000 pottery fragments, 3,000 stone tools, and many other archaeological finds submitted by more than 100 expeditions. This level of integration provides daily verification of the 3D approach and its intellectual and economical advantages.