Düwelsteene today
3D scan of the tomb
3D scan of the tomb
The Düwelsteene (LWL-Altertumskommission für Westfalen/Priß)
The tomb is one of the most southwestern finds of a preserved megalithic tomb of the Funnel Beaker culture. This culture dates between 4200 and 2800 BC, the megalithic tombs of this culture were widespread in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Scandinavia and are dated between 3500 and 2800 BC. Megalithic tombs of the Funnel Beaker culture were designed as burial places for several generations.
The tomb that can be found today has the following dimensions since the
restoration in 1932: The entire tomb complex, oriented from southwest to
northeast, has an outer length of 12 meters. Inside, the length is 10.2 meters.
The width of the megalithic tomb ranges from 2.7 meters to 4.3 meters outside,
while inside the structure ranges from 1.5 meters to 2.2 meters in width.
By examining finds
such as ceramics, as well as by radiocarbon dating of a skull fragment from the
tomb, the length of the usage of the tomb can be determined from about 3300 BC
to 2600 BC.
The digital megalithic tomb
The virtual megalithic tomb was created by "Image-based Modeling" in the spring
of
2017 by the Altertumskommission für Westfalen. The Düwelsteene were thus
digitally
preserved by photographing the entire
grave complex from all angles. These photogrammetrically straightened out
photographs form a 3D model that consists of a point cloud, which also
possesses true color values. The Düwelsteene were converted from over 378
million
measuring points into a 3D model with 4,373,938 (triangle-)polygons.
On the basis of these photographs, an orthophoto was also created, which served
as the basis for the floor plan drawing. By using the orthophoto, the floor plan
is true to scale and distortion-free.
The orthophoto (LWL-Altertumskommission für Westfalen/Klinke u. Richters)
3D mesh
The existing model of the Düwelsteene, which was created by Image-based Modeling
in 2017, was used to model a 3D object to represent the megalithic tomb on the
website. Since the Düwelsteene had been converted from over 378 million
measuring points to a 3D model with 4,373,938 (triangle-)polygons, the amount of
polygons that form the 3D tomb has been decimated for better and faster loading
in the 3D viewer. By lowering this 3D mesh to 100,771 (triangle-)polygons, the
virtual megalithic tomb can now also be shown here as a 3D model.
The decimation took place in Blender with the "Decimate Modifier".
In the navigation bar of the 3D browser the following options can be found:
Back to the starting position
Show more information and metadata
Zoom closer to the model
Zoom away from the model
Change and set the position of the light source in the 3D browser
Measure distance by picking two points on the model/on the stones
Make information points visible for explanations within the model
Divide the model into different sections to make only parts of the
model visible.
The colored separation faces and outlines can be removed by clicking
on the check marks.
Moving the section buttons changes the position of the separation
faces in the model.
On the computer:
The left mouse button rotates the model, with the right mouse button the complete
model can be moved.
On mobile phone:
By dragging your finger across the screen, the model rotates.
Easily zoom with two fingers, by moving them away from each other.
In case of problems with the 3D models and the individual options, please make sure that the device is up to date. If the 3D Viewer does not work optimally, please update the browser and/or the system.
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On this website, archaeology enthusiasts and researchers can virtually view the Düwelsteene as a 3D model in the state in which the megalithic tomb is found today. The stones of the tomb are also visible as a 3D reconstruction, presumably as they were positioned before the 1932 restoration. Another virtual reconstruction shows the megalithic tomb of the Funnel Beaker Culture as it might have looked around 3000 B.C.
Directions to the megalithic tomb, information about the restoration of the tomb in 1932 and the current 3D digitizations by the Altertumskommission für Westfalen (LWL), information about the excavation history, as well as tales about the origin of the megalithic tomb and the origin of the name Düwelsteene.
AboutThis website visualizes the history of the Düwelsteene and is designed for the digital reconstructions of this megalithic tomb. Would you like to tell me your opinion about the website? Your feedback helps me to improve the website in form and content! To support you, I have provided a feedback form, which you are welcome to use. Thank you very much!
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