Reconstruction of c.1650 B.C. Fragmented Wall Paintings by Exploitation of the Thematic Content

Abstract

In this paper two approaches of general applicability for placing fragments of important archeological objects in their proper position are presented. Both methods are based on the thematic content of the drawings depicted on fragments of c.1650 B.C. wall-paintings, excavated at Akrotiri of the Greek island of Thera. The first method employs the statistical nature of the drawn figures’ dimensions and gives an estimate of the probability that two fragments belong to the same decorative element and are properly placed in it. During the second method, the authors exploit the fact that the contour lines of many drawn objects correspond to specific geometric archetypes. Subsequently, an exhaustive Least Squares novel approach is applied in order to correctly place fragments containing broken contour lines of the same decorative elements. Both methods have been successfully applied to the restoration of various fragmented wall-paintings. The methods are particularly useful in cases where human factor has intrinsic difficulties in matching wall-paintings fragments, as in the case where there are considerable gaps or even no contact at all between the fragments.