Illuminating palaeolithic art using virtual reality: A new method for integrating dynamic firelight into interpretations of art production and use

Wisher, Izzy; Needham, Andy

Abstract

Approaches to Palaeolithic art have increasingly shifted beyond the traditional focus on engraved or depicted forms in isolation, to appreciating the sensorial experience of art making as integral to shaping the form of depictions and the meaning imbued within them. This kind of research appreciates an array of factors pertinent to how the art may have been understood or experienced by people during the Palaeolithic, including placement, lighting, accessibility, sound, and tactility. This paper contributes to this “sensory turn” in Palaeolithic art research, arguing that the roving light cast by the naked flame of fires, torches or lamps is an important dimension in understanding artistic experiences. However, capturing these effects, whether during analysis, as part of interpretation, or presentation, can be challenging. A new method is presented in virtual reality (VR) modelling – applied to Palaeolithic art contexts for the first time - as a safe and non-destructive means of simulating dynamic light sources to facilitate analysis, interpretation, and presentation of Palaeolithic art under actualistic lighting conditions. VR was applied to two Magdalenian case studies: parietal art from Las Monedas (Spain) and portable stone plaquettes from Montastruc (France). VR models were produced using Unity software and digital models of the art captured via whitelight (Montastruc) and photogrammetric (Las Monedas) scans. The results demonstrate that this novel application of VR facilitates the testing of hypotheses related to the sensorial and experiential dimensions of Palaeolithic art, allowing discussions of these elements to be elevated beyond theoretical ideas.

Citation

Wisher, I., & Needham, A. (2023). Illuminating palaeolithic art using virtual reality: A new method for integrating dynamic firelight into interpretations of art production and use. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 50, Article 104102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.104102

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 23, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jun 30, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-08
• Deposit Date: Nov 1, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 1, 2023
• Journal: Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
• Print ISSN: 2352-409X
• Electronic ISSN: 2352-4103
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 50
• Article Number: 104102
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.104102
• Keywords: Archeology; Archeology
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1873805