ANCIENT burial mounds will be brought to life by a new research project taking place at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Heritage Together is a collaboration between MMU, Bangor University, the University of Aberystwyth and Gwynedd Archaeological Trust. The project encourages the public to photograph Neolithic burial sites and standing stones around North Wales and Anglesey which will then be turned into 3D images and published on the web.
The prehistoric burial chambers , some of which date as far back as 4,000BC – provide one of the greatest insights into the burial traditions of our ancestors.
Dr Ben Edwards, Lecturer in History at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “Burial mounds in different areas of the country are built completely differently to each other and that makes them really interesting. People always ask us why they were built as they are – but sometimes we can only guess. It’s totally alien to our experience. We really hope people get involved in the project and help us understand the incredible variety of these fantastic monuments.”
Members of the public taking part in the project will be able to upload their photographs to the Heritage Together website, where they will be turned into three dimensional textured models using a cutting-edge technique known as photogrammetry, providing a permanent web resource for academics and the general public alike.
The project will culminate in an exhibition to be held at Pontio in Bangor where a selection of three dimensional representations, made by digitally combining between three and 20 images, will be 3D printed.
The models will enable users to interact with a special touch surface table which will call up and display all the relevant information about that standing stone to the computer screen-like table top.
Dr Jonathan Roberts, from Bangor University’s School of Computer Science, said: “This project provides a great way to involve the public in work that marries new technology with Archaeology. I really hope that the project inspires people to get involved in photographing stones and viewing the 3D information.”
Forthcoming events
HeritageTogether Exhibitions at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre – April 7 to May 5 and August 4 to September 5
Segontium, Caernarfon, Easter Event – April 20
Barclodiad y Gawres passage tomb open day – June 14
Meillionydd excavation open day – June 20; July 19-20
Bryn Celli Ddu passage tomb open day June 21-22
Photogrammetry and digital recording workshop July 16
Hen Gastell excavation open day – July 19
Photogrammetry workshop – July 23, 18:00–20:00
Bryn Celli Ddu passage tomb open day – July 26
For more information, visit www.heritagetogether.org
