Kyrenia
Cyprus

Proving Ground

Questions about the original arrangement of the cargo and the manner in which the ship broke apart were posed to archaeologists at the Institute. A key concern of the Kyrenia publication team was whether the Institute’s modeling methods were sufficient to create accurate and precise digital replicas of not only the artifacts, but also of the details of the ship’s construction in order to properly arrange tests to answer the basic questions inherent in the project’s goals.

The project is relatively new, so we have not progressed very far through the evidence. Our first steps were to model some of the typical and also the more unusual objects from the wreck:

  • several types of amphoras
  • a kantharos
  • some lead rings
  • an iron bloom
  • a couple of so-called “yo-yos,”
  • some timbers
  • a preliminary model of the ship’s hull derived from the lines drawings.
A typical wooden toggle, or ‘yo-yo’ (so-called because of its shape; although we do not yet know its function), from the Kyrenia wreck; © 1979 Susan W. Katzev.

A typical wooden toggle, or ‘yo-yo’ (so-called because of its shape; although we do not yet know its function), from the Kyrenia wreck; © 1979 Susan W. Katzev.
Drawing of toggle, or ‘yo-yo,’ W7 showing its probable original form (c.8.2cm high; made from heartwood; function unknown); © 1979 Susan W. Katzev.

Drawing of toggle, or ‘yo-yo,’ W7 showing its probable original form (c.8.2cm high; made from heartwood; function unknown); © 1979 Susan W. Katzev.
Yo-yo W7 render from the 3D model; © 2004 Institute for the Visualization of History, Inc

Yo-yo W7 render from the 3D model;
© 2004 Institute for the Visualization of History, Inc.
The Kyrenia ship mast step and stanchion steps; © 1985 J. Richard Steffy

The Kyrenia ship mast step and stanchion steps;
© 1985 J. Richard Steffy
Kyrenia shipwreck photos showing the location of the mast step; photos © 1968 Robin C. M. Percy & Susan W. Katzev.

Kyrenia shipwreck photos showing the location of the mast step; photos © 1968 Robin C. M. Percy & Susan W. Katzev.
Mast step render from the 3D model; © 2004 Institute for the Visualization of History, Inc

Mast step render from the 3D model;
© 2004 Institute for the Visualization of History, Inc.
click on the images to enlarge

VRML

We have satisfactorily demonstrated our ability to handle the data and are moving forward with a detailed 3D computer model of the ship as it may have looked just before it sank.

Requires the Cortona3D Viewer (PC) - learn more about VRML and the plugins

 

Kyrenia Mast StepKyrenia Mast Step
Virtual reality model of the Kyrenia mast step.
© 2004 Institute for the Visualization of History, Inc
click to load the VRML model

Yo-yoYo-Yo
Virtual reality model of yo-yo W7
© 2004 Institute for the Visualization of History, Inc
click to load the VRML model

Reverse Engineering

Since the ship seems to have undergone numerous repairs over its lifetime, the Kyrenia team has decided that we should work from the existing remains and extrapolate from those to the final design of the vessel (not its very first original form). We are lucky enough to be working, for the ship’s details, under the guidance of J. Richard Steffy, who worked in Cyprus on the wooden remains of the ship during the 1970s; and for the artifacts and overall project vision, with the excavator, Susan Katzev.

Rendering from our 3D model of the Kyrenia hull, based on the lines drawings of J. Richard Steffy; © 2004 Institute for the Visualization of History, Inc.

Rendering from our 3D model of the Kyrenia hull, based on the lines drawings of J. Richard Steffy; © 2004 Institute for the Visualization of History, Inc.

Reference
Page Created: October 5, 2004
Page Updated: December 27, 2011
URL:
Page Author: The Institute for the Visualization of History