En virtuell rekonstruktion -Vad kan det lära oss? Studiet av husrekonstruktioner från järnåldern med hjälp av 3D-modellering

Sammanfattning: This study deals with two issues. One is the interpretation of reconstructions of Iron Age houses; and the other is whether virtual reality—i.e. 3D modeling—is a useful tool for this interpretation. Physical reconstructions are constrained by both researchers’ and financiers’ interests. These interests sometimes clash, when e.g. return on investment forces a profitable version of a given project, at the expense of accuracy. This study examines whether it is possible for research to be less financially constrained by the costs incurred by manpower and construction planning. Firstly, the study considers the reconstruction of a longhouse in Genesmon, not far from Gene fornby in Ångermanland, carried under the direction of Lena Edblom. Her team documented everything, from the choice of wood to the length and dimensions of the pillar structure of the roof structure. This makes this house an excellent foundation for further studies with 3D modeling, and in particular the Open Source program Blender. Secondly, the study discusses hermeneutics based on the Interrogative model of inquiry (IMI), which models how knowledge is be obtained through a questioning process. The model is first presented, as is common in the IMI literature, with a Sherlock Holmes mystery—“The Case of Silver Blaze”—and then applied to analyze the 3D modeling process. The results from the study are very promising and the analysis shows that 3D modeling is a useful tool. In total, seven different models became completed which all tested different interpretations. The study shows that virtual reality could be used during investigations about different dimensions and angles, regarding house reconstructions and it could also be tool to overcome misunderstandings between researchers.