Prehistoric rock art and modern computer animation

From Cambridge News in Britain:

Prehistoric rock art has been brought back to life at a Cambridge museum.

Some of the world’s oldest engravings of the human form – prehistoric rock art from the Italian Alps – have been revived by digital technology at Cambridge University’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

The Pitoti exhibition is on display until March 23. This is the first time it has been shown in the UK.

It brings some of the earliest human figures in European rock art to life with interactive graphics, 3D printing and video games; exploring the potential links between the world of archaeology and the world of film, digital humanities and computer vision. The engravings were made from as early as 7,000BC.

Dr Frederick Baker, senior research associate at the McDonald Institute of Archaeological Research, said: “Human beings have engraved the rocks with their everyday lives and stories. It’s a kind of visual autobiography.

“Through the help of digitisation we discover this tribe and get insight into the symbols which actually adorn the rock, to get these symbols moving.”

“Ice Age Art: Arrival of the Modern Mind”, the British Museum, London, until 26 May: here.

Sound-reflecting shelters inspired ancient rock artists. Acoustic data suggest early European painters preferred echo chambers. ByBruce Bower, 8:00am, June 26, 2017.

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