MRP-CHC Collection
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Item Blue Creek Archaeological Project: Process Documentation of Structures 32, 33, and 34 at the Maya site of Xno'ha in Northern Belize. Poster presented at the 2018 Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Poster Session: Digital Archaeology: Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing, Drones(2023-04-05) Baaske, Benjamin; Austin, KevinThe presentation of heritage sites is critically important to the perception of historical narratives. A key goal is to help both scholars and the general public to see heritage as dynamic and living. This project explores the visualization of archaeological excavations through preservation technologies, specifically photogrammetric data. Our study focuses on a patio group at the Maya site of Xno’ha (occupation dates range from the Late Preclassic to the Terminal Classic) in northern Belize, and the current excavation and photogrammetric documentation of three administrative structures (32, 33, and 34). Sequential photogrammetry was conducted throughout the entire stratigraphic excavation of Structure 34’s unit, resulting in 9 layers of photogrammetric documentation. The same process was applied to a chultun feature (single chamber) at Structure 33, creating 18 layers of photogrammetric data at regular intervals. For Structure 32, a single-phase, 3D model was generated, successfully stitching the above-ground unit to its corresponding, subterranean chultun (three chambers). Additionally, photogrammetry was used to create a plan view of the patio group area, and to create wall elevations. This methodical documentation of the process of excavation, in the span of months, records a three-dimensional time-lapse dialing back architectural conditions of the site hundreds of years.Item Maya Archaeological Field Survey 2016: Documentation and Lab Processing Techniques(2022-10-27) Baaske, Benjamin; Warden, RobertField research continued at Blue Creek with the Maya Research Program’s 25th season in the summer of 2016 with excavations at Xnoha: Structures 10, 32, 74, 77, 78, 100, and 106. A team from the Center for Heritage Conservation at Texas A&M University headed research in documenting these structures as well as the surrounding landscape. Data collection techniques consisted of Leica total station survey, FARO Focus laser scanning, FARO Freestyle laser scanning, and photogrammetry.Item Xno'ha Digital Survey 2017(2022-10-27) Baaske, Benjamin; Warden, RobertThe presentation of heritage sites is critically important to the perception of historical narratives. A key goal is to help both scholars and the general public to see heritage as dynamic and living. This project explores the visualization of archaeological excavations through preservation technologies, specifically photogrammetric data. Our study focuses on a patio group at the Maya site of Xno’ha (occupation dates range from the Late Preclassic to the Terminal Classic) in northern Belize, and the current excavation and photogrammetric documentation of three structures (32, 33, and 34). Sequential photogrammetry was conducted throughout the entire stratigraphic excavation of Structure 34’s unit, resulting in 9 layers of photogrammetric documentation. The same process was applied to a chultun feature (single chamber) at Structure 33, creating 18 layers of photogrammetric data at regular intervals. For Structure 32, a single-phase, 3D model was generated, successfully stitching the above-ground unit to its corresponding, subterranean chultun (three chambers). Additionally, photogrammetry was used to create a plan view of the patio group area, and to create wall elevations. This methodical documentation of the process of excavation, in the span of months, records a three-dimensional time-lapse dialing back architectural conditions of the site hundreds of years.Item Blue Creek Archaeological Project: Documentation of Structures and Artifacts at Xno'ha and Tz'unun: 2018 report(2022-10-27) Baaske, Benjamin; Warden, RobertAnnual digital survey by the Center for Heritage Conservation at Texas A&M University with the Blue Creek Archaeological Project in northwestern Belize has been ongoing since 2008. This report discusses the breadth of “digital” artifacts generated during the 2018 season. The first six weeks of digital survey applied multi-image photogrammetry as a technique to produce daily, 3D-digital maps of excavations of architecture at Xno’ha and Tz’unun. 110 unique “maps” in the form of colorized point clouds were created: 69 maps at Xno’ha and 41 maps at Tz’unun. Structures and features excavated at both sites consisted of range structures, pyramidal mounds, chultuns, stelae, looter’s trenches, and a mask. The final two weeks restricted most multi-image photogrammetry to recording smaller artifacts recovered from Xno’ha, Tz’unun, Nojol Nah, and Blue Creek, while also applying a new hand-held laser (the Artec Space Spider) technique to other artifacts. In addition to recording artifacts, the final two weeks of digital survey also laser scanned the final excavation phases of architecture at Xno’ha and Tz’unun. 10 architectural structures and features were laser scanned. While this report aims to present a catalog of digital survey and 3D modeling, the report is also another iteration in experimenting with usable formats for accessibility by researchers and the public.Item Digital heritage documentation of structures at the Maya sites of Birds of Paradise - North and Tz'unun in Belize(2020-03-03) Baaske, Benjamin; Warden, RobertDigital documentation of structures continued at Tz’unun with a brief operation at Birds of Paradise – North. The bulk of the data collected during the field season occurred during sessions 1-3 and focused on multi-image photogrammetry of excavations at Tz’unun: Structure 4 & 5 (ballcourt), Structure 9, Structure 13, Structure 20 (E-Group radial pyramid), Structure 21, Structure 22 (E-Group eastern platform), and Chultun 18-05. In session 4, all excavations at Tz’unun were laser scanned with the exception of Chultun 18-05, which had been backfilled at the close of session 2.