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MSc Thesis
“Virtual Meccano”:
The Creation of Virtual Joints to Explore
Vernacular Timber-framed Construction Methods of the Late Medieval Period
(c1400-1530).
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The research agenda of this paper is
to create a visual database, containing the key joints used by late medieval carpenters, in the construction of vernacular timber-framed, open-hall dwellings (c1400-1530). This will
be achieved by employing virtual, three dimensional (3D) technologies, to create solid geometric objects that emulate
their real-world counterparts, through the utilisation of 3d studio max. This will result in the creation of a virtual library,
containing the pre-formed joints.
3ds max, 3D modelling, AutoCAD, Black Death in England, buildings archaeology, Cultural Virtual Reality
CVR, fully developed medieval floor plan, geometric modelling, late medieval open hall houses, late medieval timber-framed
buildings, portable media players, virtual heritage, visual databases
Supervised by Dr Graeme Earl and Professor Matthew Johnson
click here to download the full pdf
click here to see a clip of a 3D joint
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PhD Thesis
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Title of the proposed investigation:
Building on Fear? The role of Digital Archaeology for the study and analysis of vernacular carpentry techniques in central
southern England c1250- c 1500, the era of the “Black Death” and successive plagues.
PRIMARY AIM: To create a methodology, based on emerging and existing computational technologies, and to use it to test theories
relating to the evolution of carpentry joints in timber-framed buildings, with particular reference to the period c1250 to
c1500, in central southern England, the era of the "Black Death" and successive plagues (James 1999a).
MAJOR SUB-AIMS TO MPhil:
- collate work undertaken by previous scholars such as (James 1999b, James and Roberts 2000, Lewis, Roberts, and Roberts
1988, Roberts 2003) especially by using dendrochronology datasets (Miles 2000-05, Roberts 2003) rather than typology (Hewett
1980) to establish a sequence of joints through time for the selected region
- to provide a methodology using archaeological standing-buildings data and analysis to run original computer simulations,
not previously used in this field, via three inter-linked Database Management Systems (DBMS) (Daly and Evans 2006)
-a relational database
-a geo-database
-a visual database
- systematically to examine selected medieval timber-framed structures of central southern England
- to undertake original archaeological fieldwork to locate, establish typology of joints at, and map structures relevant
to this study
- the emulation of "real world" carpentry techniques and geometry by creating "virtual replicas"
using 3 dimensional modelling (Haddlesey 2005a)
MAJOR SUB-AIMS TO PhD:
- with the methodology in place, the databases can be queried to look for patterns and trends visible in the data such
as change through time and across the region
- to query the databases in relation to the use of timber-jointing by different ranks of late medieval society
- to query the databases and analyse the information in examining timber-jointing in central southern England and elsewhere
in relation to demographic and social change, for example the effects, if any, of the "Black Death" and successive
plagues
Supervised by Professor Tom Beaumont-James, Dr Keith Wilkinson and Mr Edward Roberts
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Annie Kemp BSc
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Annie has been working hard in Thailand and Laos since leaving Uni. In Thailand she helped with the tsunami relief. In
Laos, Annie has been working with the Laotions to clear unexploded mines and bombs from the 'Plain of Jars' to help
preserve the heritage there and make the area safe both for the inhabitants of the area and heritage tourists. She began her
PhD in Jan 2008 at Cranfield University with this as her main focus
click here to download a pdf of the corbel collection
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Related Texts
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Oxford Dendrochronology Laboratory: Report 2005/23
FURTHER DENDROCHRONOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON THE CARVED HEADS FORMERLY STORED AT DEVIZES, WILTSHIRE
click here to download the full pdf
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Dr M C Bridge & D W H Miles
Oxford Dendrochronology Laboratory.
Photographs by R Haddlesey BSc MSc
Oxford Dendrochronology Laboratory
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