Perceived space: Demonstrating a quantified approach to illumination in archaeological sites based on Asian Buddhist cave temples 5th–8th century CE.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Monteith, Francesca; Yu, Chun; Cai, Lele; Zhao, Youyi
- Source
- Archaeological & Anthropological Sciences. Oct2022, Vol. 14 Issue 10, p1-16. 16p.
- Subject
- Language
- ISSN
- 1866-9557
Recent advances in the three-dimensional modelling and lighting simulations provide an opportunity to engage with role of illumination in the functionality of space in archaeological contexts. The original spatial contexts of the once brightly coloured paintings and statuary of the cave temples of South, Central and East Asia provide the perfect case study since they are preserved in situ and their entire form is preserved. Visual perception is a key factor in the experience of a space. To this end, this paper presents a precis on the forms of lighting which were present in these regions during the 5th–8th centuries when these caves were being constructed before presenting data from physical and simulated lighting experiments which demonstrate the varying extents to which the interior of these caves would have been visible to devotees under different potential lighting solutions. These data are then extrapolated in order to outline the way in which lighting affected the historical functionality of the caves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]