A totally new digital 3D approach for reassembling fractured archaeological potteries using thickness measurements

Abstract

The reassembly of a broken archaeological ceramic pottery from its fragments (called sherds or ostraca) is an open and complex problem, which remains a scientific process of extreme interest for the archaeological community. All the solutions suggested by various research groups and universities, depend on external information such, the outline of sherds, the corners of their contour, some geometric characteristics, the matching of the discontinued surfaces due to fracture, the angles and curves on its boundaries, etc. In our approach the reassembly process is based on a different and more secure idea, since it is focuses on the thickness information encapsulated in the inner part of the sherds, which is not -or at least not heavily- affected by the presence of harsh environmental conditions and is safely kept within the sherd itself. The method is verified in various use case experiments, using cutting edge technologies and precise measurements on 3D models.