3D Modelling

In 2021, I was given the opportunity to join the team of Stanford University’s Maritime Archaeology & Digital Heritage Lab, led by Dr. Justin Leidwanger. While I analyzed and organized a lot of data, my main task was creating digital models of over 100 types of amphora to help determine their stacking efficiency in a theoretical ship’s cargo hold. This data—their volume, how well they stack, what the amphoras carried, and the region of their archaeological origin—helps researchers understand trade routes and trade economy in the ancient Mediterranean world.

Data management is a key part of a project of this size and complexity. I also developed new methods of modelling basket-handle amphoras and recorded tutorials for future project collaborators. The main software I used for modelling and calculations is Rhino 7.

A special side-project was digitally reconstructing a filled cargo hold of the Yassi Ada, a Byzantine 7th Century CE shipwreck.

A multiple viewport workstation in Rhino 7
Developing the unique handle shape of this Zoroglu Type 2 No. 6 amphora was a fun challenge
Each amphora (shown here, Keay 62) touches the row below at three points, with a distance tolerance of 0.001 cm