The depiction of the immediate environs around monument sites is equally important as the creation of individual monument reconstruction models. This information provides a broader context for monuments and their possible role and function. It also provides a tool for visualising and experimenting how landscapes may have changed considerably over the years. This data also provides an opportunity for the investigation of the evolution of the historic landscape.

Source Data

The next stage was to model the medieval landscape surrounding the Priory. Georeferenced evidence was again used to ensure that all the relationships in the final model would be geometrically accurate and reliable. This evidence was compiled using ArcGIS software. It consisted of material such as the 1630's Strafford survey which allowed us to determine some of the possible land use for our reconstruction and it identified the main route through the town.

The terrain surface for the final model was produced using satellite generated height points (50m density) to enable the topography of the area to be correctly defined. An interpretation based on archaeological cartographic evidence by Brian Shanahan (MRS project) provided the basis for a number of features in the final model. These included; the former extent of Loughnaneane, the site of a crannog within this turlough, Roscommon Castle on the north side of Roscommon Town, the parish church, the market area of Fair Green and also the town boundary.

Modeling

The final model of the priory and its surroundings was created using VUE software. First the terrain was imported, and then from VUE libraries a grass material was added and an atmosphere (the sky, clouds and lighting etc) generated for the scene. The model was then constructed on this basic landscape. The Priory model was added to the scene in its known Irish National Grid co-ordinates and other buildings added to the town scene. These building models were created using the same technique as for the Priory; positions based on GIS sources, their size and appearance on evidence from excavations and other sources. The extent of Loughnaneane was added, as was the road through the town and the earthen bank boundary in its location as determined through the interpretation. Each of these new additions to the model was assigned appropriate materials, such as a wood material for the fence posts and a lime render material for the house walls. Trees and other appropriate vegetation were also added to the model. The vegetation was chosen after consulting with our environmentalist (Ingelise Stjuits) in keeping with the geographical location and medieval time period, including trees such as oak and hazel. The final model was rendered from a desired camera angle and location to produce an image. This image could then be enhanced using Photoshop.

Additional Sites

This first model was deemed to be a success so it was decided to repeat the process on two further sites of importance for the Medieval Rural Settlement's ongoing projects, the medieval castle of Ballintubber in Roscommon and the medieval village of Castlemore in Carlow. These reconstructions were based on the same principles of surveyed data and historic evidence.

It is hoped these models will provoke discussion and debate as to how the medieval structures and landscape may have looked. Such debate and argument will feed back into the process to help refine and improve the reconstructions to generate ever more realistic and detailed models.