Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-m8qmq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-16T10:04:26.924Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Digital infra-red photography for recording painted rock art

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Glen Fredlund
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA (Email: fredlund@uwm.edu)
Linea Sundstrom
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA (Email: fredlund@uwm.edu)

Extract

Here is a new application of infra-red photography with a digital camera to record rock art. The need to make full and accurate records of the images, without touching (and thus degrading) the rock, requires a method of remote mapping. Trials with digital IR reported here are very promising and especially useful for painted rock art.

Type
Method
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd. 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aujoulat, N. 1993. L'outil photographique, in Groupe de Réflexion sur l'Art Pariétal Paléolithique [GRAPP] (ed.) L'art pariétal paléolithique: techniques et méthodes d'étude: 347–53. Paris: CTHS.Google Scholar
Baldia, C.M. & Jakes, K. A.. 2007. Photographic methods to detect colourants in archaeological textiles. Journal of Archaeological Science 34: 519–25.Google Scholar
Barnett, T., Chalmers, A., Díaz-Andreu, M., Ellis, G., Longhurst, P., Sharpe, K. & Trinks, I.. 2005. 3D laser scanning for recording and monitoring rock art erosion. International Newsletter on Rock Art (INORA) 41: 25–9.Google Scholar
Brady, L. M., David, B., Manas, L., Mualgal Corporation & McNiven, I.. 2004. Rock paintings of Mua Island: initial results from western Torres Strait. Rock Art Research 21: 2746.Google Scholar
Bridgman, C. F. & Gibson, H. L.. 1963. Infra-red luminescence in the photographic examination of paintings and other art objects. Studies in Conservation 8 (3): 7783.Google Scholar
Chabries, D. M., Booras, S. W. & Bearman, G. H.. 2003. Imaging the past: recent applications of multispectral imaging technology to deciphering manuscripts. Antiquity 77: 359–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chandler, J. H., Fryer, J. G. & Kniest, H. T.. 2005. Non-invasive three-dimensional recording of aboriginal rock art using cost-effective digital photogrammetry. Rock Art Research 22 (2): 119–30.Google Scholar
Clark, J. D. 1954. A note on experiments in photographing prehistoric rock paintings by ultraviolet light. South African Museums Association Bulletin 5 (16): 417–21.Google Scholar
Clogg, P., Díaz-Andreu, M. & Larkman, B.. 2000. Digital image processing: the recording of rock art. Journal of Archaeological Science 27: 837–43.Google Scholar
David, B., McNiven, I. & Brayer, J.. 2003. Colourful past. Archaeology 73. [http://britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba73/feat2.shtml] Google Scholar
Díaz-Andreu, M., Hobbs, R., Rosser, N., Sharpe, K. & Trinks, I.. 2005. Long Meg: rock art recording using 3D laser scanning. Past 50: 26.Google Scholar
Dorrell, P. G. 1994. Photography in Archaeology and Conservation (second edition). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Company, Eastman-Kodak. 1972. Applied Infra-red Photography: Kodak Publication No. M-28. Rochester (NY): Eastman-Kodak.Google Scholar
Eklund, J. & Fowles, P. S.. 2003. Three-dimensional recording by laser scanning of the petroglyphs at Rombald's Moor, West Yorkshire. Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites 6: 1122.Google Scholar
El-Hakim, S. F., Fryer, J. G., Picard, M. & Whiting, E.. 2004. Digital recording of Aboriginal rock art, in Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Virtual Systems and Multimedia [VSMM 2004], Ogaki, Japan: 344–53. National Research Council of Canada Institute for Information Technology.Google Scholar
Gibson, H. L. 1978. Photography by Infra-red: Its Principles and Applications. New York: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Hansen, H.P.|H., Meldgaard, J. & Nordqvist, J.. 1991. The Greenland Mummies. London: British Museum Press.Google Scholar
Hartley, R. J., Vawser, A. W., Smith, A. R. & Johnson, M. A.. 1993. Documenting Rock Art in Dinosaur National Monument (Midwest Archeological Center Occasional Studies in Anthropology 29). Lincoln (NE): United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Midwest Archeological Center.Google Scholar
Holliday, C. S. 1961. The application of ultraviolet light photography to prehistoric rock art. South African Museums Association Bulletin 7 (8): 179–84.Google Scholar
Kamal, O. S., Ware, G. Z., Houston, S., Chabries, D. M., Christiansen, R. W. & Graham, I.. 1999. Multispectral image processing for detail reconstruction and enhancement of Maya murals from La Pasadita, Guatemala. Journal of Archaeological Science 26: 1391–407.Google Scholar
Loendorf, L. L. 2001. Rock art recording, in Whitley, D. S. (ed.) Handbook of Rock Art Research: 5579. Walnut Creek (CA): AltaMira.Google Scholar
Marshack, A. 1975. Exploring the mind of Ice Age man. National Geographic January: 6589.Google Scholar
Miller, M. E. 1997. Imaging Maya art. Archaeology (May/June): 3440.Google Scholar
Moss, A. A. 1954. The application of X-rays, gamma rays, ultra-violet, and infra-red rays to the study of antiquities. Museum Association of London Handbook for Museum Curators Part B, Section 4.Google Scholar
Munro, M. 1988. Indian art comes to light. Canadian Geographic 108 (August-September): 6670.Google Scholar
Ogleby, C. L. 1995. Digital technology in the documentation and management of rock art, in Preservation of Rock Art (Australian Rock Art Research Association Occasional Publication 9): 8087. Melbourne: Australian Rock Art Research Association.Google Scholar
Pearce, D. G. 2003a. The Tierkloof painted burial stones. South African Journal of Science 99: 125–27.Google Scholar
Pearce, D. G. 2003b. Ultraviolet photography as an aid to copying painted stones. The Digging Stick 20 (3): 89.Google Scholar
Pedersen, A. 1953-54. El infrarrojo y su applicación en la investigación de pinturas rupestres. Runa: Archivo para las Ciencias del Hombre 6: 216–23.Google Scholar
Rip, M. R. 1983. Digital recording and image processing of rock art by computer. South African Archaeological Bulletin 38 (138): 77–9.Google Scholar
Simpson, A., Clogg, P., Díaz-Andreu, M. & Larkman, B.. 2004. Towards three-dimensional non-invasive recording of incised rock art. Antiquity 78: 692–98.Google Scholar
Singer, R. & Wymer, J.. 1969. Radiocarbon date for two painted stones from a coastal cave in South Africa. Nature 224: 508–10.Google Scholar
Solodeynikov, A. 2005. Research on the recording of rock raintings in the Kapova Cave (Urals). International Newsletter on Rock Art (INORA) 43.Google Scholar
Trinks, I., Díaz-Andreu, M., Hobbs, R. & Sharpe, K.. 2005. Digital rock art recording: visualising petroglyphs using 3D laser scanner data. Rock Art Research 22 (2): 131–39.Google Scholar
Valiga, J. P. & Goerz, J. P.. 1987. Visual and Computer Assisted Analysis of Amerindian Rock Paintings. American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing-ACSM, Technical Papers. TR693.A85a.Google Scholar
Wainwright, I.N.M. 1990. Rock painting and petroglyph recording projects in Canada. APT Bulletin 22 (1-2): 550–79.Google Scholar
Ware, G., Houston, S., Miller, M., Taube, K. & De la Fuente, B. 2002. Infra-red imaging of precolumbian murals at Bonampak, Chiapas, Mexico. Antiquity 76: 325–26.Google Scholar
Webster, W.J.E. 1966. Ultra-violet photography of Australian rock paintings. Antiquity 40: 144.Google Scholar