Potentialities of 3D reconstruction in Maritime Archaeology

During excavation and documentation of a site many factors affect the choice of the type of technical documentation: features of the evidence, soil properties and the depth of the shipwreck. We describe three research projects to show how 3D reconstruction can be the final step of different types of documentations: 3D photogrammetry, 2D drawings, and 3D trilateration. 3D reconstruction is the best type of documentation, because it allows us to optimize time and work during the excavation, and to obtain complete data for post-excavation study. We have to evaluate the potential for innovation, and new prospects for research and study of this methodology for technical documentation. Furthermore, the 3D model allows us to better record and represent the position of the cargo or the wooden hull; and at the same time it offers an attractive display for the public, who can better appreciate the archaeological evidence.