Periods I-V Stratigraphic Cross-Section

The purpose of this continuing research is to develop a system for archaeological data management and analysis and visualization using commercially-available software products. The primary focus of this work is to address scaling-up and scaling-down requirements a multi- scaling graphical user interface, the linking of visual models at different scales to a common database, production of variously scaled 3D models of the Harappa archaeological site, and the assessment of the 3D visualizations.

It is not surprising that the Harappan archaeologic excavations produce data best represented at several different scales. Trench sections provide a relatively great level of detail with measurements and extents on the order of centimeters to meters that are typically shown on plans and sections at scales of 1:30 with, for example, depictions of individual bricks in excavated structures. The plans and reconstructions of excavated Harappan structures, such as domiciles or the perimeter walls, are usually represented at a slightly lower level of detail. These typically depict features extending on the order of meters to tens of meters at scales of about 1:200. Maps showing the overall topography and physiography of the site are at a still a lower level of detail. They show features extending to hundreds or thousands of meters at scales of 1:10,000. These three scales are referred to in this dissertation as the 'trench', 'structure', and 'site' scales, respectively.

This work does not seek to merely construct a series of 3D visualization of an archaeological site. This research does not involve archaeological interpretation, but instead the technical aspects of the scientific visualization and data management. Techniques and procedures that were useful for visualizing these detailed data sets support field studies, subsequent interpretations by archaeologists, and the public presentations of results. The results of this work may be applied to other geologic studies with similar data collection and analysis needs; for example, geotechnical site investigations, seismological (fault trace) studies, and environmental engineering work. These applications are analogous to archaeological data, since they all include stratigraphic layering, sample locations, chemical analyses, geotechnical analyses, and other site-specific evaluations.