Maya Sun Simulation of Bosnian Gravestone Virtual Model

Abstract

Bosnia and Herzegovina is very rich with cultural heritage sites. Perhaps the most famous of these are the stecaks; the monumental gravestones of Bosnian Heretic Christians. The orientation of the stećaks was important to the ancient Bosnians, Unfortunately, their orientation towards the sun has been changed when they were moved from their original locations to more secure sites at museums. This is particularly true of the stećak from Donje Zgosce, one of the most beautiful stećaks in B&H. Using high-fidelity graphics techniques we have created a detailed virtual reconstruction of this stećak and produced a sun simulation in Maya This enables archaeologists to be able to investigate the interaction of the light with the stećak’s carvings as it may have appeared in 14 century.