The Discovery Programme was asked by the National Monuments Service of the OPW to undertake the 3D recording of a decorated orthostat which had been removed from Knockroe chambered tomb to the depot of the OPW in Kilkenny for conservation purposes. Such a controlled environment with open access to the orthostat presented an exceptional opportunity to use laser scanning technology to generate a highly detailed 3D model of the decorated surface, and record the complete stone in 3D.

On inspection of the orthostat it was clear that a comprehensive 3D recording of the stone could be best achieved using a combination of our two laser scanners.

Firstly the Mensi scanner was used to record the whole stone (minus the small part buried in the gravel supporting base). The result of this was a precise model of the complete orthostat, although at a 2mm accuracy (and resolution) this was not intended to record the subtleties of the decoration. It would, however, provide a context and accurate dimensioning for the orthostat as a whole.

The second component of the scanning concentrated on the decorated face, this time using the NextEngine scanner. With sub-millimetre resolution and accuracy it was hoped to produce a highly detailed 3D surface model reflecting the subtleties of the decoration.

The removal of the orthostat from the Knockroe complex presented a perfect opportunity to apply laser scanning to record in 3D detail the stone and its decoration in a controlled environment. The combination of the two scanning techniques was a great success, and a cost effective way of completing the project. The results should allow further interpretation of the decoration and importantly provide a metrically accurate record of the stone as it appeared in December 2010 should further weathering or damage occur at some point in the future.

A pdf version of the survey report for this project is available to download, see below.

The 3D pdf file of the stone, illustrated below, is too large to offer as a download from the website but can be supplied to interested users on application to The Discovery Programme.

 Knockroe Orthostat Survey Report (1.12 MB)