The Role of Digital Archaeology in Studying Medieval Timber Joints

8/14/2019 The Role of Digital Archaeology in Studying Medieval Timber Joints

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The Role of DigitalThe Role of Digital

Archaeology in StudyingArchaeology in Studying

Medieval Timber JointsMedieval Timber Joints

Richard HaddleseyRichard Haddlesey

The University of WinchesterThe University of Winchester


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Outline of this presentationOutline of this presentation

brief introduction to medieval timber-framing and how it hasbeen studied and depicted in the past

updating traditional techniques with digital technologies

disseminating and sharing this information


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My Background

Ibegan my PhD at the University of Winchester in Feb 2006

supervised by Prof Tom Beaumont James & Dr K Wilkinson

and advised by Mr Edward Roberts

started life destroying old buildings

how can I save these buildings and raise their awareness?

I wanted to combine my two passions

old buildings

technology


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Background to my research

researching late medieval timberframe buildings

concerned with jointing and

framing techniques

houses were prefabricated(Harris 1978)

joints were created by the master

carpenter

basic joints are similar

dendrochronology is the most

significant advance in datingbuildings [since c14](Morriss 2000)

http://www.his.com/~tom/TOOLS.PDF


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Previous workPrevious work

by examining all these examples of frame-work we have

been able to prove, despite their great variety, that eachperiod is characterised by definite assembly-methods

(Deneux, 1927)

1980 Cecil Hewett writes

English Historic Carpentry

focused on the Essex area

based on teleological progression

lack of scientific methodology

dendrochronology not used


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dendrochronologydendrochronology

Dendrochronology, or tree-ring analysis, is a highly technicalspecialist process that relies on powerful computertechnology and skilled technicians. (Morriss 2000, 142)

trees of the same species, growing during similar time

frames in localised habitats, will produce similar growth-ringpatterns

dendrochronology was pioneered in North America by

Douglas during the first decades of the 20th century

Baillie produced a full Oak chronology in 1988 forIreland, itnow goes back 7,272 years in northern Europe


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Recalibrating Hewett

in the light of dendrochronology, buildings archaeologistscan now recalibrate Hewett's dates

With solid dates we can also revaluate any significance in

the changes in style and techniques alongside historicinformation


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My work

Using modern digital technologies to understand

the progression of medieval joint technologies


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Collecting the data

fieldwork and surveying

recording dimensions, carpenters marks, joint types,

locations etc.

in the field by direct data entry into MS access, AutoCAD and

SketchUp

direct data entry mitigates dyslexia

high quality digital photographs to provide context and basis

for models


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Interpreting the data

To provide a means to date joints based ondendrochronology and a visual database


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digital photography


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digital photography


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Highlighting features


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Using the zoom


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DatabasesDatabases

MS Access Database of houses and joint types dated bydendrochronology and written records

geodatabases in ArcGIS 9 of house locations

visual database of joint types and chronologies including

sketches, digital photographs and 3D models

integration with established ADS online datasets

VAG online dendrochronology database


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Traditional 2D illustrationsTraditional 2D illustrations

2D illustrations can lack depth, context and meaning

they remain static

tend be an exploded view

not easy to read

non-scalable

(Alcock et al1989, 30)


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Creating a visual chronology

1.1. 11801180 12001200

2.2. 11801180 L13thCL13thC

3.3. L13thL13th E14thCE14thC


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TudorMerchants Hall, Southampton c1428


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Moving to 3D illustrationsMoving to 3D illustrations

using existing 2D illustrations, my survey records and digitalphotographs to produce 3D images


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Moving to 3D interactionMoving to 3D interaction

models can

be manipulated intoshowing a more appropriate view

they can be animated to show

how the joints fit together


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Tie-beam assembly c1428, TudorMerchants Hall Southampton


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DisseminationDissemination

websites / emails / ebooks

publish using Adobe3D tie-beam

online website and ADS archive

mobile phones with internet connection, and/or, data cards

portable media devices


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Mobile media devices


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pplying geomatics to timber-famed structures

geomatics is the discipline of gathering, storing, processing,and delivering of geographic information

uses GPS, GIS, maps, satellite imagery

used to record, analyse, cognate and visualise spatial

information

As computer technologies advance, so too, does the tool setavailable to buildings archaeologists


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Global Positioning Systems (GPS)


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Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

is a system for capturing, storing, analysing and managingdata and associated attributes which are spatially referenced

to the earth

a tool to collate and manipulate spatial data

goes beyond conventional mapping

key advance in the cognitive sciences


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Using map layers


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(Chapman, 2006)

aiding landscape perceptions


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Isle of Wight


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Find-density


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Field usesField uses

other researchers

conservation officers

construction industry

building owners


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Thank you

[email protected]

www.medievalarchitecture.net

Supervised by Prof Tom James, Dr Keith Wilkinson

and Mr Edward Roberts

The Role of Digital Archaeology in Studying Medieval Timber Joints

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