Simulation of an Archaeological Disaster: Reassembling a Fragmented Amphora Using the Thickness Profile Method

摘要

In this paper, we simulate the incredible story of the Francois Vase, on a remarkable ancient amphora depicting Achilles and Briseis exhibited in the provincial museum Sigismondo Castromediano in Lecce, Italy. A high precision handmade replica of the original red-figure style masterpiece, 50 cm tall, from the collection of the museum in Lecce was built, fully decorated in our laboratory and then intentionally destroyed simulating the archaeological disaster of the Francois Vase. The handmade amphora (i.e. replica) was broken in 507 fragments, out of which 148 sherds (or ostraca) were offered for digital restoration through the Thickness Profile method on an on-going project.