Digital technologies have expedited the excavation of a newly discovered pottery kiln site in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and are facilitating subsequent research, according to an expert from the excavation team.
Discovered in July, the site is the first Song Dynasty (960–1279 AD) kiln found in Shaanxi Province. The excavation uncovered a rare square kiln with multiple fire chambers, which is vital for the study of ancient kiln technology.
"According to the current findings, this should be the first squire pottery kiln discovered in Shaanxi. The pottery kiln was likely used to produce bricks and tiles. Another notable feature is the presence of multiple fire chambers, which is very rare," said Fu Zhongyang, leader of the excavation team at Shaanxi's Fenghao Ruins from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), which led the site excavation.
Digital technologies enabled the excavation to be completed in less than two months, achieving greater efficiency than in previous projects.
"By employing multiple technologies, we were able to work at a faster pace. The excavation started in July and was completed in August. By the end of August, we had already organized all the materials," said Fu.
Using 3D modeling technology and other tools, the team created digital models of the archaeological site, along with structural plans, digital files, and detailed records of the site and the unearthed artifacts.
"We call it multiple-angle 3D modeling, which generates 3D models of the site with photos taken by drones and cameras set on the ground. The subsequently generated digital elevation models and archaeological drawings are all based on these digital models," said Fu.
Digital technologies, as a powerful asset in archaeological excavations, are becoming increasingly popular among archaeology institutes across China.
"Technologies have facilitated both our excavations and the organization of materials. All archaeology institutes are promoting technology-assisted methods, which have accelerated our research and the process of transforming our archaeological findings into academic achievements," said Fu.
Digital technologies speed up excavation and research at pottery kiln ruins in Shaanxi
