3D Metrology for Ancient Pottery Classification and Reconstruction

Ceramics classification and reconstruction are fundamental for the knowledge of history, economy, and art of a site. The method traditionally used by archeologists for their investigation presents a series of significant limitations. The results depend on subjectivity, specialization, personal skills, and professional experience of the operator; hence they are not reproducible and repeatable. Furthermore, since the method is time-consuming, it is used to analyze only indicative samples that have characteristic components. In order to overcome these limitations, in the last years, some automatic methods for studying ancient pottery’s findings are proposed in literature. All the most promising ones analyze a 3D discrete geometric model of ceramics. By analyzing the voluminous related literature, the hottest topics are 3D geometric model setup, virtual prototyping, geometric model fragment processing, geometric model processing of whole-shape pottery, 3D puzzling of archeological fragments; classification, additive manufacturing technologies for physical reconstruction of ceramics. In order to help all the researchers involved in this field, this chapter aims to provide a comprehensive and critical analysis of the state-of-the art for the above-mentioned topics. For this purpose, the present review is focused on the presentation of the pros and cons of the techniques used on these different issues