3D IMAGES OF ANCIENT EGYPTIAN QUARRIES AND MINES

* * * * * Flashing 3D * * * * *

The following images are derived from stereographs taken in the mid-1800's to early 1900's. Digital images of the left and right photos of each stereo pair were overlaid and aligned, and then converted to an animated-GIF file that rapidly alternates between the two photos to create a simulated 3D image. This conversion was accomplished using the free "Stereo Photomaker" software available at http://stereo.jpn.org/eng/stphmkr/. Depending on your computer's processing speed, some of these images may vibrate too slowly to produce the 3D effect. As more of these images are acquired they will be posted here.

A. Aswan Granite and Granodiorite Quarries (Early Dynastic to Roman periods; 2950 BC - AD 400) click here for images

B. Gebel el-Silsila Sandstone Quarry (Middle Kingdom to Roman period; 1975 BC - AD 400) click here for images

C. Qertassi and Kalabsha Sandstone Quarries (Roman period; 30 BC - AD 400) click here for images

D. Tura and Masara Limestone Quarries (3rd Dynasty to Roman period; 2650 BC - AD 400) click here for images

E. Wadi Maghara Turquoise Mine (Early Dynastic period to New Kingdom; 2950-1075 BC) click here for images

* * * * * 3D Anaglyphs * * * * *

A more impressive 3D effect is achieved when the stereo-photo pairs are rendered as anaglyphs: i.e., the left photo is projected through a red filter and the right photo through a cyan (blue-green) filter, and then the two images are overlaid and aligned. These can be made with the same Stereo Photomaker software mentioned above. Viewing anaglyphs, however, requires special glasses with a red left lens and cyan right lens.

  For anaglyphs of the above photos click on the localities below.
 

A. Aswan Granite and Granodiorite Quarries (Early Dynastic to Roman periods; 2950 BC - AD 400) click here for images

B. Gebel el-Silsila Sandstone Quarry (Middle Kingdom to Roman period; 1975 BC - AD 400) click here for images

C. Qertassi and Kalabsha Sandstone Quarries (Roman period; 30 BC - AD 400) click here for images

D. Tura and Masara Limestone Quarries (3rd Dynasty to Roman period; 2650 BC - AD 400) click here for images

E. Wadi Maghara Turquoise Mine (Early Dynastic period to New Kingdom; 2950-1075 BC) click here for images

* * * * * Images Sources * * * * *

[A.1, A.5, E.1-E.2, E,4] from Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Online Catalog at http://www.loc.gov/pictures/.

[A.2] from Ortkundeprüfung at http://khnemo.wordpress.com.

[D.1] from J. H. Breasted. 1908. Egypt through the Stereoscope: A Journey Through the Land of the Pharoahs. New York: Underwood & Underwood. Digital copy available at http://scholarship.rice.edu.

[B.5-B.7, C.1-C.3, D.2] from J. Bonomi, F. Frith and S. Sharp. 1862. Egypt, Nubia and Ethiopia: Illustrated by One Hundred Stereoscopic Photographs. London: Smith, Elder and Co.

[A.3-A.4, B.1-B.4, E.3] from University of California at Riverside Museum of Photography, Keystone-Mast Collection online at http://www.oac.cdlib.org.

James A. Harrell
Professor Emeritus of Archaeological Geology 
Department of Environmental Sciences
The University of Toledo
 

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