Digital reconstruction of severely fragmented overlapping trousers from Shengjindian Tomb M15 Turpan, Xinjiang

Abstract The digital reconstruction of severely damaged ancient garments creates major obstacles to cultural heritage conservation. This paper presents a hypothetical virtual reconstruction of the overlapping trousers (2007TSM15:30) from Tomb M15 at the Shengjindian site in Turpan, Xinjiang. Physical methods and relational analogies were employed for pattern reconstruction. The research results show that the difference between the drape coefficient of the reference fabric and the reconstructed virtual fabric is optimal when the difference in drape coefficients is 9.07%. The colour values were obtained using stratified sampling methods and were then reconstructed via cross-sample colour difference correction and colour space conversion. Assuming that two paper sample designs, A and B, have been reconstructed, an analysis of both the dynamic and static pressures revealed that option B was the optimal crotch pattern. 2007TSM15:30 may be a precursor to riding breeches and an important reference for the hypothetical reconstruction of severely damaged ancient clothing.