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A re-evaluation of the concept of type in coroplastic studies based on 3D shape analysis of terracotta figurines from Ayia Irini, Cyprus

Vassallo, Valentina LU ; Hermon, Sorin ; Scalas, Andreas ; Mortara, Michela and Spagnuolo, Michela (2019) CAA 2019 p.212-212
Abstract
Coroplastic studies refer to the study of terracotta figurines mostly through an art history ap-proach, where types and classes are defined through stylistic and aesthetic considerations. Such an approach is highly subjective and is based on the knowledge of the researcher interacting with the subject material. Moreover, the lack of agreed upon criteria for classification and the lack of quantitative attributes that would define one or another type make any comparative research a futile exercise. The problem becomes even more severe when the objects under investigation are dispersed in various museums in different countries and their initial description has been performed several decades ago within the traditional framework described... (More)
Coroplastic studies refer to the study of terracotta figurines mostly through an art history ap-proach, where types and classes are defined through stylistic and aesthetic considerations. Such an approach is highly subjective and is based on the knowledge of the researcher interacting with the subject material. Moreover, the lack of agreed upon criteria for classification and the lack of quantitative attributes that would define one or another type make any comparative research a futile exercise. The problem becomes even more severe when the objects under investigation are dispersed in various museums in different countries and their initial description has been performed several decades ago within the traditional framework described above. The aim of this research is to propose an alternative method for the investigation of terracotta figurines, but which can be extended to other types of material culture as well, based on the identification and analysis of a set of features objectively describing the objects under investigation. Such features are based on descriptors meaningful for the characterization of the objects’ shape, their mode of manufacture and techniques of production and which derive from a 3D geometry analysis and surface characterization. Some of these descriptors are: straightness, circularity, thickness, eccentricity, multiple transversal slices, etc. semi-automatically extracted from the 3D model. The case study consists of a sample of terracotta figurines from Ayia Irini, Cyprus. They are part of a larger assemblage of ca. 2000 statues with various shapes and sizes, excavated at the beginning of the 20th century. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
published
subject
pages
1 pages
conference name
CAA 2019
conference location
Kraków, Poland
conference dates
2019-04-23 - 2019-04-27
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f552f020-7b89-4c46-a0be-b983368720f0
alternative location
https://2019.caaconference.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2019/04/CAA2019_programabstracts_v20190423.pdf
date added to LUP
2019-05-31 14:14:51
date last changed
2023-10-09 11:40:55
@misc{f552f020-7b89-4c46-a0be-b983368720f0,
  abstract     = {{Coroplastic studies refer to the study of terracotta figurines mostly through an art history ap-proach, where types and classes are defined through stylistic and aesthetic considerations. Such an approach is highly subjective and is based on the knowledge of the researcher interacting with the subject material. Moreover, the lack of agreed upon criteria for classification and the lack of quantitative attributes that would define one or another type make any comparative research a futile exercise. The problem becomes even more severe when the objects under investigation are dispersed in various museums in different countries and their initial description has been performed several decades ago within the traditional framework described above. The aim of this research is to propose an alternative method for the investigation of terracotta figurines, but which can be extended to other types of material culture as well, based on the identification and analysis of a set of features objectively describing the objects under investigation. Such features are based on descriptors meaningful for the characterization of the objects’ shape, their mode of manufacture and techniques of production and which derive from a 3D geometry analysis and surface characterization. Some of these descriptors are: straightness, circularity, thickness, eccentricity, multiple transversal slices, etc. semi-automatically extracted from the 3D model. The  case  study  consists  of  a  sample  of  terracotta  figurines  from  Ayia  Irini,  Cyprus.  They  are  part of a larger assemblage of ca. 2000 statues with various shapes and sizes, excavated at the beginning of the 20th century.}},
  author       = {{Vassallo, Valentina and Hermon, Sorin and Scalas, Andreas and Mortara, Michela and Spagnuolo, Michela}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{212--212}},
  title        = {{A re-evaluation of the concept of type in coroplastic studies based on 3D shape analysis of terracotta figurines from Ayia Irini, Cyprus}},
  url          = {{https://2019.caaconference.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2019/04/CAA2019_programabstracts_v20190423.pdf}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}