RTI shedding new light on Iberian Late Bronze Age stelae

During the first two weeks of September David Wheatley and myself, jointly with Leonardo García Sanjuán (University of Seville), have conducted fieldwork in Lora del Río, Seville (Spain). This fieldwork has been aimed at providing enhanced contextual data and visual recording of a Late Bronze Age decorated stela.

As part of this work we have applied Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) and the results are really amazing. RTI allows us to examine the surface of the stela interactively. It also reveals details of the surface that are not evident to the naked eye, not even with the aid of artificial grazing light. We can distinguish between the different techniques employed and identify the possible superimposition of motifs, in short, get at the processes of carving and sculpting, examine the skill of the craftsmen/women involved and explore the biography of this beautifully decorated stone [...] Archaeological Computing Research Group