Study of Early Iron Age vessels using 3D-modeling (based on baraba, sargat culture): metric characteristics

Purpose. The purpose of the paper is to approve and identify the possibilities of 3D modelling in the study of the Early Iron Age vessels.Methods. A series of experiments comparing computer and manual measurements of the vessels metric characteristics have been carried out (corolla diameter and vessel height). The experiments are based on 3D-models of three Early Iron Age vessels: a complete round-bottom vessel; a complete flat-bottom vessel; a fragmented round-bottom vessel. The respondents are represented by two groups: Iron/Bronze age and Stone Age researchers. The methods of statistics and arithmetic were used to process the results. The obtained computer and manual metric characteristics were subjected to arithmetic and statistical analyses.Results. It was revealed that the differences in measuring the corolla diameter between two groups were 0.1-1 mm. Measurements of vessels height by Stone Age researchers are more exact: the difference at the minimum discrepancies is less than 1 mm, the maximum values diverged up to 7 mm. According to the results of preliminary statistical analysis, there are no differences between the researcher groups on metric measurements of vessels. Statistical analysis showed that the results of manual measurements of simple objects (corollas) are sufficiently accurate and can be used for research. If a complex object (the complete vessel) is to be measured, it is better to use computerised measurements. Manipulation of high-precision artefact measurements is possible through the application of 3D-modelling.