The many Reflections of an Artefact - Using the Portable Light Dome to Image Archaeological Object

The Portable Light Dome Systems aim to create interactive images by reflecting white light, infra-red and ultra violet light spectra on the surfaces of ancient artefacts. These high quality virtual images avoid future handling and facilitate their detailed study. The texture/colour values on these 2D+ and 3D models are interactive datasets based on a recording process with multiple light sources. The main devices for this task are the so-called minidomes, these are acquisition systems which make sequences of images of a surface all with a different lighting angle: by 2015 the project has developed a version with white light LEDs and a version with 5 different spectral LEDs; the Portable Light Dome (PLD) and the Multispectral PLD, respectively. Software tools and enhancement filters have been developed which can deal with the different wavelengths in real-time. They ensure the multispectral 3D digitalization and visualization of fragile objects, bearing inscriptions or remnants of pigments on ostraca, tablets, papyri, etc.; all preserved on/in clay, wood, stone, parchment, papyrus or paper. This leads to an easy and cost-effective methodology, which combines the whether or not multi-spectral images with the actual relief characteristics and properties of the physical object. In addition, creating a registration system that requires minimal handling but delivers maximal output for research and conservation purposes, must be seen as most welcoming in working with the numerous fragile objects safeguarded in cultural heritage collections and excavated during archaeological missions. The system presents itself as an easy by scholars to use tool and transportable to any collection or excavation in the field. Over the years several thousands of archaeological objects have been recorded with the PLD devices, these include thousands of cuneiform tablets, seal impressions and many other types of archaeological artefacts. The result of these many scans has been used for ongoing research projects, general imaging efforts in collections and for assignments in conservation sciences