Large-scale Immersive Reconstitution of a Neolithic Corbel Dome

Abstract

We propose a workflow of tools and procedures to reconstruct an existing archaeological site as a virtual 3D reconstitution in a large scale immersive system. This interdisciplinary endeavor, gathering archaeologists and virtual reality computer scientists, is the first step of a joint research project with three objectives: (i) propose a common workflow to reconstruct archaeological sites as 3D models in fully immersive systems, (ii) provide archaeologists with tools and interaction metaphors to exploit immersive reconstitutions, and (iii) develop the use and access of immersive systems to archaeologists. In this context, we present results from the immersive reconstitution of Carn's monument central chamber, in Finistère, France, a site currently studied by the Creaah archaeology laboratory. The results rely on a detailed workflow we propose, which uses efficient solutions to enable archaeologists to work with immersive systems. In particular, we proposed a procedure to model the central chamber of the Carn monument, and compare several softwares to deploy it in an imersive structure. We then proposed two immersive implementations of the central chamber, with simple interaction tools, and finally describe the European project Visionair which provides access to high level visualization facilities.