Artificial Imagination Induced by Visualised Hypotheses in Archaeology
- This paper demonstrates our 'visualisation of hypotheses' approach for providing scientific and creative visualisations. Our aim is to project the abstract virtual model as realistically as possible, using the technique we call 'virtual photography'. We have developed research projects in close contact with the German Archaeological Institute DAI (antic metropolis Pergamon in West Anatolia, Palatine Palaces in Rome, Ktesiphon in Mesopotamia, all exhibited in the Pergamon Museum Berlin, developed within the Excellence Cluster TOPOI by Freie Universität and Humboldt-Universität Berlin and funded by the German Research Foundation DFG); the Egyptian Museums Berlin and Munich (royal city of Naga, Sudan); Cologne Cathedral (building phases including predecessors); the Martin-von-Wagner Museum Würzburg (visualising Archbishop Julius von Echter’s ideal church); and the Bern Minster Foundation and Bern Institute for Art History (the early building phases of the 15th and 16th century). This paper demonstrates how virtual modelling and virtualThis paper demonstrates our 'visualisation of hypotheses' approach for providing scientific and creative visualisations. Our aim is to project the abstract virtual model as realistically as possible, using the technique we call 'virtual photography'. We have developed research projects in close contact with the German Archaeological Institute DAI (antic metropolis Pergamon in West Anatolia, Palatine Palaces in Rome, Ktesiphon in Mesopotamia, all exhibited in the Pergamon Museum Berlin, developed within the Excellence Cluster TOPOI by Freie Universität and Humboldt-Universität Berlin and funded by the German Research Foundation DFG); the Egyptian Museums Berlin and Munich (royal city of Naga, Sudan); Cologne Cathedral (building phases including predecessors); the Martin-von-Wagner Museum Würzburg (visualising Archbishop Julius von Echter’s ideal church); and the Bern Minster Foundation and Bern Institute for Art History (the early building phases of the 15th and 16th century). This paper demonstrates how virtual modelling and virtual photography work hand-in-hand, respecting traditional architectural design modelling in order to translate hypotheses and uncertain knowledge, without adding more content than necessary, to induce an architectural vision. In addition, we also follow the design principles of traditional architectural photography. Traditional methods of representing architecture are therefore used in combination with high-end technological tools for creating familiar visual impressions. The benefit of this approach is that the main subject of the examination will be its content, despite its technological approach and appearance. Using the CAD tools of mechanical engineering, which allow geometrical definitions that go far beyond the architectural needs, and visualisation tools that approach the quality of simulations, the visualised hypotheses resemble studio photography of clay models, or realistic photography of abstract geometry.…