Blue Creek Archaeological Project: Documentation of Structures and Artifacts at Xno'ha and Tz'unun: 2018 report

Abstract

Annual 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.