Kan strålar av ljus tyda det förflutna?
Användning av Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) för att tyda runinskrifter på Pireus-lejonet
Archaeological science3DReflectance Transformation ImagingRTIRTI-viewerRTI-builderCopy of Piraeus lionVarangianRunic scriptsSwedish History MuseumPTMHSHLaborativ arkeologiKopian av Pireus-lejonetPireus lejonetRuniskrifterRunristningarVarjagerVäringarVäringagardetRusSHMVikingatiden
This paper deals with testing the method Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) on the copy of the Piraeus-lion in Historic Museum in Stockholm. The purpose is to find out if it is possible to gather more information about the runic inscriptions. RTI is a method that records the surface normal of individual pixels in a digital photograph by analyzing the impact of light coming from different angles of entrance. RTI produces sort of a 3D-image of the object. There will be an overview of earlier interpretations of the runic scripts written on the lion as well as an overview of Varangians in the southeast. After examination of the lion with RTI, has a conclusion been made that the method should be performed again on similar items, and on the copy of the Piraeus-lion to evaluate its full potential.