Tags:
digital archaeology,
3D scanning,
CT-scanning (3D X-ray),
Photogrammetry,
3D GIS,
Documentation,
methodological development,
Stone Age,
Iron Age
Publications
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Daly, Aoife; Kimball, Justin & Bill, Jan
(2025).
A Revision of the Dendrochronological Date of the Grønhaug Ship–and its Methodological and Interpretational Implications.
Norwegian Archaeological Review.
ISSN 0029-3652.
58(1),
p. 71–94.
doi:
10.1080/00293652.2025.2510920.
Full text in Research Archive
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Solheim, Steinar; Zilmer, Kristel; Zawalska, Judyta; Vasshus, Krister S.K.; Sand-Eriksen, Anette & Kimball, Justin
[Show all 7 contributors for this article]
(2025).
Inscribed sandstone fragments of Hole, Norway: radiocarbon dates provide insight into rune-stone traditions.
Antiquity.
ISSN 0003-598X.
99(404),
p. 422–439.
doi:
10.15184/aqy.2024.225.
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The development of runic writing (the early Germanic alphabetic script) and the practice of inscribing runes on stone are difficult to trace, particularly as rune-stone inscriptions are rarely found in original and/or datable contexts. The discovery of several inscribed sandstone fragments at the grave field at Svingerud, Norway, with associated radiocarbon dates of 50 BC–AD 275, now provide the earliest known context for a runestone. An unusual mixture of runes and other markings are revealed as the fragments are reconstructed into a single standing stone, suggesting multiple episodes of inscription and providing insight into early runic writing practices in Iron Age Scandinavia.
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Kimball, Justin; With, Ruben & Rødsrud, Christian Løchsen
(2024).
A new and ‘riveting’ method: Micro-CT scanning for the documentation, conservation, and reconstruction of the Gjellestad ship.
Journal of Cultural Heritage.
ISSN 1296-2074.
66,
p. 76–85.
doi:
10.1016/j.culher.2023.11.003.
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The cultural heritage sector has increasingly explored the use of micro-CT (µCT) across numerous projects seeking to better understand past cultures and the materials they have left behind. As such, the role of micro-CT (µCT) is still being developed and projects continue to show novel ways that the technology can be adapted to. The Gjellestad ship, located in Halden (Østfold in Viken), Norway, is dated to the Viking Age and was found in a poor state of preservation. Both organic and metallic materials were deteriorated to the degree that standard excavation methods would have resulted in further damage to, or even the destruction of, these elements. A new approach was needed, and this presented an opportunity to explore the use for µCT as a documentative tool for field archaeology and conservation. As the remaining rivets were too fragile to handle directly, they were removed together with the surrounding matrix as soil blocks. To retain important stratigraphic and position information, a georeferencing system was developed that would be visible to µCT and included within each soil block. This enabled the spatial (re)positioning of the soil blocks by use of 3D GIS and in alongside with other spatial documentation gathered at the time of excavation. The quantity of soil blocks will give us a large dataset to work with and, although we continue to document the soil blocks with µCT, we now can discuss our preliminary results pertaining to the positive impact that µCT has for the documentation, conservation, and reconstruction of cultural heritage.
View all works in NVA
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Riel, Sjoerd Joost van; Pantos, George Alexis; Handberg, Søren; Berg-Hansen, Inger Marie; Damlien, Hege & Kimball, Justin
(2026).
Facilitating Teaching with Digital 3D Models of Archaeological Artefacts.
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A fundamental part of teaching archaeology at a university level revolves around the analysis of
artefacts. Access to these artefacts for teaching purposes can be limited by practical or safety
considerations. For these reasons, but also to enhance the study of artefacts in ways that physical
handling cannot facilitate, the use of digital 3D models of artefacts in teaching archaeology at
universities has become commonplace.
In our presentation, we will present our experiences using digital 3D models of artefacts for teaching
undergraduate students. The cases revolve around the development of two learning scenarios in
conjunction with the Erasmus+ project Virtual Worlds in Teaching Archaeology. Using the browser
based BItFROST platform, the students got access to 3D models of archaeological artefacts. Through
integrated functionalities in the platform, the students were given access to several tools for studying
digital 3D models, such as measuring- and sectioning tools. Combined with traditional learning material
such as handouts and online reference collections, the students used the integrated spots and notes
functions to create spatially located notes. This was considered to be a powerful tool, since the ability
of the students to observe characteristic features and describe their spatial relevance, are considered
an important learning outcome for the courses. The notes could then be sent to, and opened by, the
teachers on their own PC, maintaining the spatial relationship between the written notes and the
features in 3D space which they describe.
The presentation will focus on the implications of these learning scenarios on the teaching as well as
how they were perceived by the students, through the results of a survey conducted after the
scenarios were implemented.
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Zimmerman, Aaron; Reynard, Bruno; Kreiner, Douglas C; Stein, Holly; Hannah, Judith & Kimball, Justin
[Show all 8 contributors for this article]
(2025).
Re-Os Lens on the Enigmatic Pogo Au District, Tintina Au Province, Alaska.
Goldschmidt Conference Abstracts.
2025.
Full text in Research Archive
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Models for low-sulfide, quartz vein hosted Au deposits are many and highly variable, whether the discussion be on relationship to magma composition, fluid source, or Au source(s) and transport. The well-endowed Tintina Au Province, spanning interior Alaska and the Yukon is exemplary, containing numerous diverse gold deposits that prove difficult to relate to one another. Pogo lacks obvious temporally related intrusion(s) for a potential Au source, even as the metamorphosed (pre-120 Ma) Devonian-Mississippian basement is filled with Cretaceous intrusions emplaced continuously from ~115-90 Ma across the region. Pogo is defined by gently northwest-dipping sheeted quartz-dominant lodes exhibiting variable pre- and post-mineralization fault-related deformation. Gold-bearing quartz lodes exhibit overprinting relations including quartz textures that present as multiple ghost breccias with multiple annealing events.
Magmatism in the immediate region is restricted to ~114-112 Ma altered and mineralized peraluminous granites, the ~107 Ma Goodpaster batholith >5 km away, and ~98-93 Ma monzodiorite plutons cutting mineralization. Re-Os geochronology on Au-associated sulfides (pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite) in some Pogo deposits suggest pyrrhotite may be slightly older (~112-110 Ma). The majority of arsenopyrite (interestingly, two varieties, one with and the other without common Os) provides Re-Os ages of ~106-105 Ma.
Here we address an unexpected age of ~142 Ma, determined for a highly unusual vein type at Pogo. Non-planar, hairline to 3-mm auriferous sulfide veinlets with tight squiggle-like morphologies, prominently crisscross an undefined, but seemingly early quartz generation. The mineralogy of these veins is pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite, with disseminated Au, and Bi2Te3. Both SEM and CT imaging support emplacement of the auriferous sulfide veinlets during a catastrophic event that appears to have produced nearly simultaneous sulfide-Au-Bi-Te and local quartz melt. Rounded sulfide-Au- Bi2Te3 melt-like blobs are suspended in quartz together with mostly rounded quartz grains containing the same sulfide-Au-Bi-Te mineralogy as the vein. Melting, freezing and brecciation may define a nearly instantaneous geologic time span.
Significantly, initial 187Os/188Os ratios for key isochrons are chondritic. We are presently investigating quartz and Pogo’s non-magnetic pyrrhotite using Raman spectroscopy, in the context of a possible impact origin for early Pogo mineralization.
Special thanks to Northern Star for samples and support.
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Riel, Sjoerd Joost van; Pantos, George Alexis; Andreassen, Ingvild Solberg; Handberg, Søren; Damlien, Hege & Berg-Hansen, Inger Marie
[Show all 7 contributors for this article]
(2025).
Using Virtual Worlds in Communicating Archaeology.
doi:
10.2312/dh.20253100.
Full text in Research Archive
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The Museum of Cultural History at the University of Oslo, Norway, has a long history of digitizing cultural heritage in 3D. Applications vary from exhibitions and public outreach to academic research, university and elementary school teaching.To truly engage our audiences, we are forced to think creatively. This poster presents examples from recent projects at the museum that have been exploring ways to facilitate people to look closer and use digital 3D models as a gateway to further exploration.
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Mjærum, Axel; Friis, Ellen Kathrine; Kimball, Justin & Gómez, Jorge Calvo
(2024).
Fish trapping in 3D. Technological approach to wooden Mesolithic fish traps in the Scandinavian alpine areas by 3D modelling.
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Many mountain environments lack a natural fish population, which has sparked a debate regarding the introduction
of fish by humans in these areas. In 2023, archaeologists excavated a 7000-year-old fish trapping enclosure system
in the low alpine lake Tesse (850 masl.) in southern Norway. This discovery is the oldest known of its kind in all parts
of Scandinavia and is one of the few examples of preserved Mesolithic woodworking in the region. The find provides
a unique opportunity to study past fishing traditions, early woodworking, and lithic tool technologies. However, it also
creates challenges in handling, documenting and interpreting the fragile and partially decomposed wooden remains.
During the excavation campaign, more than 60 poles were discovered and documented in situ at site, using 2D and
3D imaging, digital measuring, and other techniques. Subsequently, eight of the best-preserved poles were documented
with blue light high resolution 3D scanning technology. This work allowing a detailed examination of production
and use-wear traces on the wood. By integrating various sources of data, such as analysing the use-wear on
stone tools, dendrochronology studies, radiocarbon analysis, and cross-referencing with other archaeological and
ethnographic evidence, this study seeks to enhance our understanding of the fish trap and related technologies. This
knowledge is vital in uncovering the origins of mountain fishing.
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Rødsrud, Christian Løchsen & Kimball, Justin
(2021).
Sieving through voxels: CT-scanning for the survey and reconstruction of the Gjellestad ship.
Full text in Research Archive
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Published
Nov. 12, 2018 10:45 AM
- Last modified
May 22, 2025 11:20 AM
