Experiencing an Ancient Assyrian Palace: Methods for a Reconstruction
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Section 1 Simulation Experiencing an Ancient Assyrian Palace: Methods for a Reconstruction Alison B. Snyder The University of Oregon, USA Samuel M. Paley The University at Buffalo, USA Abstract The various forms of two and three-dimensional applications of Computer- Aided Design provide methods for analyzing, seeing, and presenting newly realized design work. It can be used to re-create building spaces unseen since their collapse centuries ago. In our project we blur the lines between the de- sign of new architectural spaces and the re-conception of ancient spaces, thus merging the fields of architecture and archaeology using digital technology. Archaeologists and Architects are interested in similar goals concerning the depiction of space and form but archaeologists must deduce from historical, cultural and social comparisons as well as actual excavated remains. Our project is reconstructing the 9th-century BCE Palace of Ashurnasirpal II situated in Iraq. Though much of the palace has been excavated its architecture and full artistic program will never again be fully realized. Attempting to visu- alize partially preserved archaeological sites depends upon deductive reason- ing, empirical wisdom and sound research. By modeling digitally and using “real-time” Java-based programming, the researchers have learned more quickly about the building than through traditional flat plans, cross-sections, drawn perspectives and constructed models. We are able to “inhabit” specific interior and exterior spaces in ways not possible before. Using the tools of digital ar- chaeology allows a myriad of educational possibilities for the scholar, student or layperson. Keywords Architecture, Archaeology; Reconstruction; Web, VR 62 2001: ACADIA Alison B. Snyder Experiencing an Ancient Assyrian Palace: Samuel M. Paley Methods for a Reconstruction 1. Introduction: From Excavation to Paper to New Experience The usage of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) along with modeling programs and Java-based technologies have become widespread, globally, in academia, in fieldwork, and in professional and industry practices, with the most popular place for the dissemination of research results on the World Wide Web (Forte and Sillioti 1997; Novitski 1997; Barcello, Forte and Sanders 2000; Dabney, Wright and Sanders 1999; Forte 1997; Figure 1. Site of the Northwest Palace at Nimrud. Photo, Gay 1996; Grady 1998). The various forms of two courtesy of the Polish Center of Archaeology, Warsaw and three-dimensional applications of CAD pro- deductive reasoning, empirical wisdom and sound vide methods for analyzing, seeing, testing and research. By collaborating with architects and presenting newly realized design work. It also scholars in other disciplines as well as research- can be used to create reconstructions of building ing other related sites and their finds, the entire spaces and places that have not been seen since picture of social life, spatial character and pos- their destruction or collapse centuries ago. In our sible symbolism becomes more clear. project, we are combining various CAD applica- We are using digital technology to aid us in add- tions with Java-based and virtual reality technolo- ing significantly to the documentation that has gies to present combinations of different data with been amassed over the last 150 years. This method more precise and realistic spatial models. We are allows us to see and deduce differently and, more interested in these results and we are particularly importantly, to “test” our decisions. Over the last enamoured of what the process of making the decade we have moved from photo and paper- models is teaching us. based documentation to the creation of an in- In the study and practice of architecture, a full depth virtual-reality publication of what we building or creative design is usually drawn and “know” about this palace. It is our intention to modeled in a variety of ways to convince the cli- provide access to more than a replica of what ent or user of the project viability and hopefully might have existed in antiquity. There is some- unique spaces that will be built to harmonize with times a look of “flattening” or an “over-simplifi- the site. The archaeologist is interested in similar cation” in digital renderings in comparison to tra- goals concerning the depiction of space and form ditional handwork, yet the three-dimensional clar- but must deduce the usage and success from his- ity and the detailed presentation of the spaces ren- torical, cultural and social comparative research dered with light and shadow are actually more and actual excavated remains. In our project we precise. (Figure 2) The team involved in this are blurring the lines between the design of new project has learned more quickly with this three- architectural spaces with the concept of re-con- dimensional-technology medium about the archi- ceiving ancient spaces thus merging the fields of tecture of the building than through what more architecture and archaeology with the aid of digi- traditional flat plans, cross-sections, drawn per- tal technology. spectives and constructed models provide. Also, Our multi-faceted project is reconstructing the information is much more malleable, allowing us 9th-Century BCE Northwest Palace of to discuss and change the model more quickly Ashurnasirpal II situated in modern day Iraq (Fig- than with traditional methods of drawing and re- ure 1). Much of the colossal palace has been exca- drawing. vated but the architecture and full artistic pro- The organization of the information digitally lets gram will never again be fully realized. Attempt- us also take these constructed images and mesh ing to visualize an archaeological site that only them with researched information such as the partially exists depends upon a certain amount of ancient and modern technology and history of the 2001: ACADIA 63 Section 1 Simulation A little over 150 years ago, a young British ad- venturer named Austen Henry Layard began ex- cavations at two sites in northeastern Mesopotamia, in what is today Iraqi Kurdistan: at Kuyunjik, the citadel mound of the ancient city of Nineveh and on the citadel mound of Nimrud, the site of the ancient city of Kalhu. It was at Nimrud that Layard unearthed the best preserved of the ancient palaces of Assyria, the so-called Northwest Palace of King Ashurnasirpal II, an Assyrian monarch who ruled from 883-859 BC. It is called the Northwest Palace because it was found near the northwest corner of Nimrud/ Kalhu’s citadel mound. Layard worked for 6 years (1845-1851), excavating and documenting these sites. As at Nineveh, he and his assistants planned, drew and removed from the ruined site of the Northwest Palace the collapsed brick and stone bas-reliefs that decorated the palace’s walls. The technical drawings and sketches of the architec- tural remains and bas-relief, testimony to the Layard years in Assyrian Mesopotamia, are pre- Figure 2. Interior view of Throne Room with partial wire served in the British Museum and the British Li- frame. Reproduced courtesy of Learning Sites, Inc. brary. A series of activities have occurred since Williamstown, MA USA this time making the job of documentation and reconstruction extremely difficult—more excava- region, art history, statistics on the diaspora of tions and then the cutting up and dispersal of the the bas-relief, methods of building construction bas-relief decoration originally found in situ. and even the materials used. We have created our Over the last 150 years, the bas-relief, whole or database with this mix of text and visual informa- in fragments, have come to be found in many parts tion so that it can be shared through hotlinks. By of the world—some in private collections and using a mixture of accurate modeling and “real- some in public. During the course of Layard’s time” Java-based programming, one can now “in- excavations and those of his assistant, Hormuzd habit” specific spaces and rooms in ways that have Rassam, and with Ottoman approval and the ap- not been possible before. We have found that us- proval, support and assistance of Henry ing the tools of “digital archaeology” allows a Rawlinson, the British government’s representa- myriad of educational possibilities for the scholar, tive in the area, the stone bas-relief decoration student or layperson. was distributed to friends, family and the British 2. Before Technology, Physical Discovery: Intro- Museum. Some of the relatives were supporters duction to Documenting the Ancient Site of Layard’s work in Mesopotamia and its publica- Our project is a complex one with layers of his- tion. torical information and now layers of people who Visitors came to Nimrud both during and after have worked more recently to present a viable the concluding years of Layard’s time in reconstruction. What follows is a brief historical Mesopotamia and then in the years during which account, of the palace architecture, art and those other excavators, including the British Museum’s who worked on the excavation materials over the William K. Loftus and William Boutcher (1854- years, to provide a basis for explaining why CAD 55) worked at Nimrud. These visitors received has become invaluable to us. permission, literally, to mine the site of what were 64 2001: ACADIA Alison B. Snyder Experiencing an Ancient Assyrian Palace: Samuel M. Paley Methods for a Reconstruction considered duplicate images, some of them fine touched. They also began to restore bas-relief to examples of 9th Century BCE bas-relief sculp- the walls. The principal result of the British exca- ture (Curtis and Reade 1995, pp. 9-16; Larsen vation work was the realization that the palace was 1966) much vaster than Layard’s plans and reports in- Examples of bas-relief from the Northwest Pal- dicated. When the British moved off the citadel ace are now to be found in 65 museums and pri- to work in the lower town, the Iraqis continued vate collections across the world.