The application of high-resolution 3d imaging techniques to the study of the Athlit ram

SThe corpus of naval ram finds, and their research has increased dramatically in recent years in a large part through the work of Prof. Sebastiano Tusa and his team off the Sicilian coast (Tusa and Royal 2012; Adams et al. 2013; Buccellato and Tusa 2013; Prag 2014). This reality along with advances in analytical and imaging techniques brings with it a renewed interest in further analysis of the Athlit ram – an intact early 2nd century BC naval ram - and its timbers. Consequently in 2017 through the generous support of the Honor Frost Foundation a new study of the Athlit ram was launched at its place of display at the National Maritime Museum Haifa, Israel. Building upon a previous study of the ram (Oron 2006) the new study was designed to provide further information on the origin of the ram, the nature and chronology of its repairs and the spatial interrelations between the ram bronze cast and its bow timbers found within it. The study applied high resolution imaging and 3D recording techniques, not available during previous studies of the ram with further elemental and metallurgical analyses and lead isotope studies. The results of this on-going study are currently being interpreted and prepared for publication. Meanwhile we wish to share the methodology and tools used for the high-resolution 3D imaging and surveying of the ram along with some preliminary observations. We believe that this information may be useful for those involved with the recording and interpretation of naval rams as well as other portable cultural heritage remains.