The Significance of Traceological Research in the Conservation and Restoration of Stone Sculptures : (The Use of Digital Methods in the Documentation and Analysis of Trace Evidence)

Traceological research offers valuable insights into the conservation and restoration practice of stone sculptures by investigating the creation, application and alteration of traces on works of art. While traceological methods are well established in disciplines such as epigraphy, archaeology and criminology, they have not yet been systematically applied to the conservation of stone sculptures. However, analysing the traces on the surface of stone sculptures is crucial in order to identify their production processes, the tools and application techniques used and to place the traces in a historical context. The use of digital methods, especially 3D technology, is reforming the documentation of traces and completely changing the way they are analysed. With 3D scanners, surfaces can be captured with high precision and complex trace patterns can be analysed in their spatial depth and arrangement. This technology makes it possible not only to visually document traces, but also to precisely determine their shape, course and edge features. This allows the traces to be interpreted in detail and decisions to be made about their worthiness of preservation. These technologies allow a detailed analysis of the trace morphology and pattern distribution, which often cannot be achieved with the same accuracy using conventional methods such as grazing light photography, casting or moulding techniques. In addition, 3D analysis enables reproducible and traceable documentation, which is essential for a holistic view of the object and the correct interpretation of the traces. The paper proposes a classification of traces on stone sculptures. It also presents several case studies that illustrate the use of 3D scan analysis in practice and show how digital methods can complement and refine traditional methods. The paper also discusses the methodological requirements and challenges associated with digital trace analysis.