Schemata. 3D Classification and Categorisation of Ancient Terracotta Figurines

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Ramin Yahyapour
• Subject Area: Classical, Roman, Christian and Islamic Archaeology
• Term: from 2019 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 421469654

The goal of the proposed case-study is not only to develop procedures for automatically generating corpora using 3D pattern recognition, but also to reflect on the associated schematisations and how they can be applied in computer science and visual sciences.Based on 200 terracottas of the late 4th and 3rd centuries BC, which are quite similar to each other, a classification system will be elaborated with digital methods, which is able to meet the complexity of the artefacts. For this purpose, methods of object-mining in 3D data are to be developed, which support the search for a suitable classification and categorisation of the images. In close cooperation between computer science and archaeology, this experimental process leads to a fundamental examination of the concept of pattern recognition as a humanities category.The discussion of the various concepts and methods will be carried out in two complementary dissertations on “Classifications and Categorisations with Digital Methods. Consistency and Variation in the Shapes of Hellenistic Terracottas of Women,” and “3D Shape Analysis of Ancient Terracottas: Contributions to Automated Object Mining”.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 2172: The digital Image
• Co-Investigators: Professor Dr. Martin Langner; Professor Dr. Philipp Wieder