- Team hopes to extend understanding of historic and prehistoric
activity on the island - Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) to be used to search for historic “graffiti” and carvings in Fingal’s Cave.
- 3D point cloud visualisation of Fingal’s Cave released
|
| 3D point cloud image of FIngal’s Cave created by the team from the GSA and NTS following previous work on the island |
Archaeologists from The National Trust for
Scotland and experts in Heritage Visualisation from The Glasgow School of Art’s
Digital Design Studio have begun a special archaeological project on the Island
of Staffa it was announced today, 4 August 2016. The project builds on the work
undertaken by the two organisations at Fingal’s Cave on the Hebridean island. Other
project partners include the University of Glasgow, the University of Stirling
and Clara Molina Sanchez.
Scotland and experts in Heritage Visualisation from The Glasgow School of Art’s
Digital Design Studio have begun a special archaeological project on the Island
of Staffa it was announced today, 4 August 2016. The project builds on the work
undertaken by the two organisations at Fingal’s Cave on the Hebridean island. Other
project partners include the University of Glasgow, the University of Stirling
and Clara Molina Sanchez.
A group of specialists led by Derek
Alexander, Head of Archaeology at the National Trust for Scotland and Dr Stuart
Jeffrey, Research Fellow at The Glasgow School of Art, is currently on the
Island undertaking an evaluation excavation which is being recorded using
traditional and photogrammetric techniques including a drone based survey of
the northern sections of the island.
Alexander, Head of Archaeology at the National Trust for Scotland and Dr Stuart
Jeffrey, Research Fellow at The Glasgow School of Art, is currently on the
Island undertaking an evaluation excavation which is being recorded using
traditional and photogrammetric techniques including a drone based survey of
the northern sections of the island.
The work comes at Staffa marks its 30th
anniversary in the care of conservation charity, the National Trust for
Scotland. The island has a rich natural heritage and is an important seabird
site. It is its fascinating the cultural heritage which is the focus of this
project, however.
anniversary in the care of conservation charity, the National Trust for
Scotland. The island has a rich natural heritage and is an important seabird
site. It is its fascinating the cultural heritage which is the focus of this
project, however.
The Isle of Staffa
and its celebrated Fingal’s Cave is one of Scotland’s most significant heritage
sites. Following its ‘discovery’ by Joseph Banks in 1772 it quickly became
established as an early tourist destination and has been an inspiration to some
of Europe’s most important cultural figures, including Wordsworth, Mendelssohn, Turner,
Verne and Hogg, but little is known of its earlier history.
and its celebrated Fingal’s Cave is one of Scotland’s most significant heritage
sites. Following its ‘discovery’ by Joseph Banks in 1772 it quickly became
established as an early tourist destination and has been an inspiration to some
of Europe’s most important cultural figures, including Wordsworth, Mendelssohn, Turner,
Verne and Hogg, but little is known of its earlier history.
|
| Specialists from the GSA and NTS work at Fingal’s Cave on a previous visit to the island |
“This next phase in our work with The Glasgow School of Art will help to
extend our understanding of human activity on Staffa from the prehistoric
period to the present day,” says Derek Alexander, Head of Archaeological
Services at NTS.
extend our understanding of human activity on Staffa from the prehistoric
period to the present day,” says Derek Alexander, Head of Archaeological
Services at NTS.
“Despite Staffa’s prominent position in the romantic imagination, it
remains a largely unknown quantity archaeologically. This is a significant gap.
Prehistoric communities from the Mesolithic onwards would have been aware of
Staffa but we have no understanding of prehistoric activity.”
remains a largely unknown quantity archaeologically. This is a significant gap.
Prehistoric communities from the Mesolithic onwards would have been aware of
Staffa but we have no understanding of prehistoric activity.”
The intense 18th and
19th century interest in Staffa arose from romantic conceptions of
the past, the geological oddity of columnar basalt formations, the wealth of
folklore and oral tradition focussed on the island an the legendary Fingal. A
single ruinous, but upstanding, bothy, which is known to have been used as a
shelter by early tourists, remains on the island.
19th century interest in Staffa arose from romantic conceptions of
the past, the geological oddity of columnar basalt formations, the wealth of
folklore and oral tradition focussed on the island an the legendary Fingal. A
single ruinous, but upstanding, bothy, which is known to have been used as a
shelter by early tourists, remains on the island.
“There are
historic references to the bothy being architecturally modified to
‘romanticise’ it for visitors,” says Dr Jeffrey. “Our photogrammetric survey of the bothy; will help to clarify this.”
historic references to the bothy being architecturally modified to
‘romanticise’ it for visitors,” says Dr Jeffrey. “Our photogrammetric survey of the bothy; will help to clarify this.”
“During our time on the
island we will also be taking the opportunity to record some of the fascinating
18th an 19th century graffiti in Fingal’s cave and search
out earlier rock carving using Reflectance
Transformation Imaging (RTI) which reveals surface information that is
not visible to the naked eye,” he
adds.
island we will also be taking the opportunity to record some of the fascinating
18th an 19th century graffiti in Fingal’s cave and search
out earlier rock carving using Reflectance
Transformation Imaging (RTI) which reveals surface information that is
not visible to the naked eye,” he
adds.
Following this
week’s work the team is expected to return to Staffa to continue the work in
October.
week’s work the team is expected to return to Staffa to continue the work in
October.
The project is being supported by the Society of Antiquaries of
Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland London Members Centre.
Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland London Members Centre.
Ends
For further information
contact:
contact:
Lesley Booth,
0779 941 4474
press@gsa.ac.uk
@GSofAMedia
Notes for Editors
The National Trust for Scotland is one of Scotland’s leading conservation
charities which relies on the financial support of its members and donors to
fund its important work of caring for the natural and cultural heritage of
Scotland for everyone to enjoy. As well as Staffa, the charity cares for Fair
Isle, Canna and dual World Heritage Site, St Kilda. To find out more about the
important conservation and ecological work at these places and to pledge
support, visit http://www.nts.org.uk/loveourislands.
charities which relies on the financial support of its members and donors to
fund its important work of caring for the natural and cultural heritage of
Scotland for everyone to enjoy. As well as Staffa, the charity cares for Fair
Isle, Canna and dual World Heritage Site, St Kilda. To find out more about the
important conservation and ecological work at these places and to pledge
support, visit http://www.nts.org.uk/loveourislands.
Digital Design Studio at The Glasgow School
of Art
of Art
The
DDS currently specialises in postgraduate teaching and research. It has been a
leader in research and development within the field of high-end 3D simulation
and visualisation since 1997.Working with EU and UK Research Councils,
Government departments and blue-chip companies, the DDS has created advanced
visualisation products in various industries including the automotive, built
environment, defence, shipbuilding and medical sectors. The DDS has a strong
background in the medical visualisation sector, and has produced 3D digital
models of selected anatomy to support activities such as pre-operative
planning, risk reduction, surgical simulation and increased patient safety.
DDS currently specialises in postgraduate teaching and research. It has been a
leader in research and development within the field of high-end 3D simulation
and visualisation since 1997.Working with EU and UK Research Councils,
Government departments and blue-chip companies, the DDS has created advanced
visualisation products in various industries including the automotive, built
environment, defence, shipbuilding and medical sectors. The DDS has a strong
background in the medical visualisation sector, and has produced 3D digital
models of selected anatomy to support activities such as pre-operative
planning, risk reduction, surgical simulation and increased patient safety.
The
DDS is a partner in the Centre for Digital Documentation and Visualisation (CDDV) with Historic Environment Scotland) which
has delivered the admired Scottish Ten – 3D visualisations of five of Scotland’s
UNESO World Heritage sites and five
international heritage sites to foster global collaboration and build lasting
partnerships based on cultural connections. It is currently creating 3D models of
Scotland’s most recent UNESO World Heritage site, the Forth Bridge. The CDDV also created the award-winning 3D visualisations and soundscapes for the state
of the art digital battle scenes as
part of the transformation of visitor facility to mark the 700th anniversary of
the Battle of Bannockburn in 2014.
DDS is a partner in the Centre for Digital Documentation and Visualisation (CDDV) with Historic Environment Scotland) which
has delivered the admired Scottish Ten – 3D visualisations of five of Scotland’s
UNESO World Heritage sites and five
international heritage sites to foster global collaboration and build lasting
partnerships based on cultural connections. It is currently creating 3D models of
Scotland’s most recent UNESO World Heritage site, the Forth Bridge. The CDDV also created the award-winning 3D visualisations and soundscapes for the state
of the art digital battle scenes as
part of the transformation of visitor facility to mark the 700th anniversary of
the Battle of Bannockburn in 2014.
The DDS is in the forefront of sound for the moving
image having won many international awards for its collaborations with film and
TV production companies.
image having won many international awards for its collaborations with film and
TV production companies.