Digital sculpting for historical representation: Neville tomb case study

Despite digital 3D polygon modelling applications providing a common and powerful tool-set for archaeological, architectural and historical visualisation over recent years, digital deformation sculpting tools are little used at present within the area of historical visualisation. More commonly applied within the video games and TV/motion picture industries, the intention of this research is to combine such tools and methodologies with existing scanned data and historical knowledge to remediate and re-imagine lost sculptural form. The aim would be to support both academic and public understanding of such missing artefacts. In addition, the research may promote alternative methods of prototyping within traditional stone carving industries and further provide an opportunity to critically evaluate approaches to deliberately mediated sculptural surrogates and their location within historical representation.

The intended research will focus on an examination and partial re-construction of the Neville tomb at Durham Cathedral. An example of cultural vandalism, the tomb has been damaged at key moments throughout several hundred years of social and religious upheaval. It will provide the researcher with an opportunity to re-create and interpret some of the lost sculptural forms carved upon it. In addition, it affords the opportunity to further explore the use of polychrome on medieval stone carving.