Information Technologies, 3D Archaeological Models and GIS: The State of the Question — An Example of 3D GIS Stratigraphy: La LLuera I cave

Eugenio Aguilar Huergo, José Adolfo Rodríguez Asensio

(Prehistory´s Department, University of Oviedo, Spain)

Abstract: The Prehistory shows us, that from 2 million years ago, the technology is something necessary for all the human species. Just like the Prehistory has proven that certain tools or modifications can invent or reinvent themselves in different historical periods depending on the need; today it is necessary to accept that the technology is, to us what the race and the claws to the lions, a biological and evolutionary adaptation. From the years 70, Information Technologies are not just a tool, but that lead all the fields of economics and research. In recent years, there is no site or caves with Paleolithic art, that you do not want to take a 3D virtual visit. For this reason, any site or cave with rock art must begin by creating your own 3D archaeological model. Within the 3D archaeological models, if someone is looking for not only magic, but the realism of the data’s veracity, GIS are the best tool. Based on the example about the solutrean stratigraphy of La Lluera I cave (San Juan de Priorio, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain), we do an overview of how it has advanced in the study of the stratigraphies in 3D and its archaeological record. It is not just a matter of software, but on many occasions, it does not get adequate nor the quality nor does it solve many of the problems facing the Archaeology. In response to this, are the individual initiatives about elaborations of 3D stratigraphies using GIS which are giving real solutions to the archaeological record. In recent years, improvements in such software, specifically with regard to the voxelization lead us finally to be able to close a discussion: how does 2.5 GIS or 3D GIS? Today, 3D GIS more than ever. All this leads us to conclude, that GIS are the most appropriate tool for the study of any stratigraphy, and secondly, that the purpose of 3D archaeological models should not only be the reconstruction of the archaeological record, but help us to understand the same.

Key words: Information Technologies (IT), 3D archaeological models, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), stratigraphy, Cantabrian region