ABSTRACT
This study provides expanded guidance on the application of virtual curation to three-di... more ABSTRACT This study provides expanded guidance on the application of virtual curation to three-dimensional (3D) digital collections of artifacts that have been—or can be expected to be—found on Department of Defense (DoD) installations, building on an earlier DoD Legacy Program project (#11-334). The current DoD Legacy Program project (#13-134) was conceived of by Ms. Amy Woods, then Curator of Archaeology at the Fort Lee Regional Archaeological Curation Facility (RACF) and Dr. Bernard K. Means, Director of the Virtual Curation Laboratory). The new project was targeted toward the creation of digital type collections to ensure rapid and accurate identification of materials recovered from archaeological sites on DoD (and other) lands. 3D replicas printed from the digital models are also well suited to creating physical type collections, for incorporation into K-12 and undergraduate education, and for integration into public outreach efforts. The VCL partnered with a wide range of cultural heritage institutions to obtain suitable material for creating digital type collections of chipped stone tools and zooarchaeological elements. Collections from Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia were part of these efforts. The zooarchaeological type collection includes a wide range of animals. Most of the zooarchaeological efforts drew on the extensive collections of the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Other categories of archaeological remains were scanned during the project period through the normal operation of the VCL, including objects associated with the Native American Monongahela tradition, Jamestown Rediscovery, George Washington, enslavement, and human skeletal remains. Technical equipment used in 3D documentation of archaeological remains was examined as part of the current effort. This equipment included the NextEngine Desktop 3D scanner, which was the main tool used for 3D documentation as part of Legacy Program project #11-334. New equipment for 3D documentation of archaeological remains included hand-held devices: the Sense 3D scanner; the Structure Sensor scanner; and the Fuel 3D scanner. Each of these is evaluated in terms of each of use and effectiveness as a tool for 3D documentation in archaeology. The software used to create, edit, and distribute 3D digital models of artifacts and animal and human remains is reviewed as well, and the chapter closes with a basic workflow used to 3D scan an artifact, create a 3D digital model, and produce a 3D printed replica. The importance of 3D printed replicas of archaeological remains for research, education, and outreach was also examined. Diagnostic projectile point, zooarchaeological, and human skeletal reference collections can be generated through 3D printing, which can be particularly important for an under-resourced collections facility. How 3D printed replicas can be integrated into classroom and field teaching of archaeological methods, occasional public outreach events, and dedicated interpretive programs is discussed. The 3D digital models generated as part of DoD Legacy Program project #13-334 enhance the ability of archaeologist to accurately classify new archaeological findings and make comparisons to known diagnostic artifacts and animal remains. Archaeologists and other cultural resources personnel can use the 3D digital typologies of chipped stone tools and animal bones to accurately evaluate the research potential of archaeological sites to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The increased availability of diagnostic archaeological remains through electronic and web-based means minimizes the time archaeologists must spend traveling to, and interacting with, collections personnel, and thus reduces costs for archaeological survey and evaluation projects required for DoD installations under Sections 106 and 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The creation of 3D digital artifact models and 3D printed replicas also helps meet the objectives of interpretation and heritage tourism of Executive Order 13287 (Preserve America).
The concept of 3D printing in Archaeology is quickly gaining attention and funding all over the w... more The concept of 3D printing in Archaeology is quickly gaining attention and funding all over the world. The cost of owning a 3D printer, meanwhile, is plummeting. Not only does this drop in price facilitate access by universities and businesses, but also to interested members of the public. With this in mind, Archaeologists must consider the prospect of using new technology to increase the accessibility of sites and artifacts to the general public. By creating reproductions of artifacts, researchers can share sensitive physical information on a larger scale than ever before. The Virtual Curation Laboratory at VCU has already begun the process of printing artifacts from various sites in the Middle Atlantic region for display. Here the focus of 3D printing has been primarily on small finds, being the most detailed and intriguing artifacts available, and introducing the public to a wider array of these artifacts could help spark a newfound interest in the field of Archaeology.
Archaeological Society of Virginia Quarterly Bulletin, Mar 2014
The curation of human remains is a critical, sensitive issue in anthropology that has no simple s... more The curation of human remains is a critical, sensitive issue in anthropology that has no simple solution. Digital curation, while not solving any cultural or political issues inherent in the process of recovering and repatriating human remains, offers an effective method for both retaining and disseminating data after repatriation. Using the resources of the Virtual Curation Laboratory at VCU, this is an experimental study into the effectiveness of the NextEngine Desktop Laser Scanner for recording and displaying various aspects of human remains. Using the included software and various freeware programs, skeletal characteristics and landmarks can be measured and related to one another in a virtual space, thus rendering the physical possession of the remains unnecessary. Also tested here is the ability of various digital rendering programs to mend broken and shattered bones that would otherwise be too physically or culturally sensitive to mend traditionally. This concept is then taken a step further with the use of the Makerbot Replicator 3D printer, used to create plastic replicas of individual bones, bone fragments, and mended 3D models, creating the possibility of physically sharing data with other researchers and the general public. Overall, the goal of this paper is to encourage archaeologists to embrace technological advancements in digital curation and make an attempt to incorporate virtual materials in future projects as the resources to do so become increasingly available.
ABSTRACT
This study provides expanded guidance on the application of virtual curation to three-di... more ABSTRACT This study provides expanded guidance on the application of virtual curation to three-dimensional (3D) digital collections of artifacts that have been—or can be expected to be—found on Department of Defense (DoD) installations, building on an earlier DoD Legacy Program project (#11-334). The current DoD Legacy Program project (#13-134) was conceived of by Ms. Amy Woods, then Curator of Archaeology at the Fort Lee Regional Archaeological Curation Facility (RACF) and Dr. Bernard K. Means, Director of the Virtual Curation Laboratory). The new project was targeted toward the creation of digital type collections to ensure rapid and accurate identification of materials recovered from archaeological sites on DoD (and other) lands. 3D replicas printed from the digital models are also well suited to creating physical type collections, for incorporation into K-12 and undergraduate education, and for integration into public outreach efforts. The VCL partnered with a wide range of cultural heritage institutions to obtain suitable material for creating digital type collections of chipped stone tools and zooarchaeological elements. Collections from Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia were part of these efforts. The zooarchaeological type collection includes a wide range of animals. Most of the zooarchaeological efforts drew on the extensive collections of the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Other categories of archaeological remains were scanned during the project period through the normal operation of the VCL, including objects associated with the Native American Monongahela tradition, Jamestown Rediscovery, George Washington, enslavement, and human skeletal remains. Technical equipment used in 3D documentation of archaeological remains was examined as part of the current effort. This equipment included the NextEngine Desktop 3D scanner, which was the main tool used for 3D documentation as part of Legacy Program project #11-334. New equipment for 3D documentation of archaeological remains included hand-held devices: the Sense 3D scanner; the Structure Sensor scanner; and the Fuel 3D scanner. Each of these is evaluated in terms of each of use and effectiveness as a tool for 3D documentation in archaeology. The software used to create, edit, and distribute 3D digital models of artifacts and animal and human remains is reviewed as well, and the chapter closes with a basic workflow used to 3D scan an artifact, create a 3D digital model, and produce a 3D printed replica. The importance of 3D printed replicas of archaeological remains for research, education, and outreach was also examined. Diagnostic projectile point, zooarchaeological, and human skeletal reference collections can be generated through 3D printing, which can be particularly important for an under-resourced collections facility. How 3D printed replicas can be integrated into classroom and field teaching of archaeological methods, occasional public outreach events, and dedicated interpretive programs is discussed. The 3D digital models generated as part of DoD Legacy Program project #13-334 enhance the ability of archaeologist to accurately classify new archaeological findings and make comparisons to known diagnostic artifacts and animal remains. Archaeologists and other cultural resources personnel can use the 3D digital typologies of chipped stone tools and animal bones to accurately evaluate the research potential of archaeological sites to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The increased availability of diagnostic archaeological remains through electronic and web-based means minimizes the time archaeologists must spend traveling to, and interacting with, collections personnel, and thus reduces costs for archaeological survey and evaluation projects required for DoD installations under Sections 106 and 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The creation of 3D digital artifact models and 3D printed replicas also helps meet the objectives of interpretation and heritage tourism of Executive Order 13287 (Preserve America).
The concept of 3D printing in Archaeology is quickly gaining attention and funding all over the w... more The concept of 3D printing in Archaeology is quickly gaining attention and funding all over the world. The cost of owning a 3D printer, meanwhile, is plummeting. Not only does this drop in price facilitate access by universities and businesses, but also to interested members of the public. With this in mind, Archaeologists must consider the prospect of using new technology to increase the accessibility of sites and artifacts to the general public. By creating reproductions of artifacts, researchers can share sensitive physical information on a larger scale than ever before. The Virtual Curation Laboratory at VCU has already begun the process of printing artifacts from various sites in the Middle Atlantic region for display. Here the focus of 3D printing has been primarily on small finds, being the most detailed and intriguing artifacts available, and introducing the public to a wider array of these artifacts could help spark a newfound interest in the field of Archaeology.
Archaeological Society of Virginia Quarterly Bulletin, Mar 2014
The curation of human remains is a critical, sensitive issue in anthropology that has no simple s... more The curation of human remains is a critical, sensitive issue in anthropology that has no simple solution. Digital curation, while not solving any cultural or political issues inherent in the process of recovering and repatriating human remains, offers an effective method for both retaining and disseminating data after repatriation. Using the resources of the Virtual Curation Laboratory at VCU, this is an experimental study into the effectiveness of the NextEngine Desktop Laser Scanner for recording and displaying various aspects of human remains. Using the included software and various freeware programs, skeletal characteristics and landmarks can be measured and related to one another in a virtual space, thus rendering the physical possession of the remains unnecessary. Also tested here is the ability of various digital rendering programs to mend broken and shattered bones that would otherwise be too physically or culturally sensitive to mend traditionally. This concept is then taken a step further with the use of the Makerbot Replicator 3D printer, used to create plastic replicas of individual bones, bone fragments, and mended 3D models, creating the possibility of physically sharing data with other researchers and the general public. Overall, the goal of this paper is to encourage archaeologists to embrace technological advancements in digital curation and make an attempt to incorporate virtual materials in future projects as the resources to do so become increasingly available.
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This study provides expanded guidance on the application of virtual curation to three-dimensional (3D) digital collections of artifacts that have been—or can be expected to be—found on Department of Defense (DoD) installations, building on an earlier DoD Legacy Program project (#11-334). The current DoD Legacy Program project (#13-134) was conceived of by Ms. Amy Woods, then Curator of Archaeology at the Fort Lee Regional Archaeological Curation Facility (RACF) and Dr. Bernard K. Means, Director of the Virtual Curation Laboratory). The new project was targeted toward the creation of digital type collections to ensure rapid and accurate identification of materials recovered from archaeological sites on DoD (and other) lands. 3D replicas printed from the digital models are also well suited to creating physical type collections, for incorporation into K-12 and undergraduate education, and for integration into public outreach efforts.
The VCL partnered with a wide range of cultural heritage institutions to obtain suitable material for creating digital type collections of chipped stone tools and zooarchaeological elements. Collections from Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia were part of these efforts. The zooarchaeological type collection includes a wide range of animals. Most of the zooarchaeological efforts drew on the extensive collections of the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Other categories of archaeological remains were scanned during the project period through the normal operation of the VCL, including objects associated with the Native American Monongahela tradition, Jamestown Rediscovery, George Washington, enslavement, and human skeletal remains.
Technical equipment used in 3D documentation of archaeological remains was examined as part of the current effort. This equipment included the NextEngine Desktop 3D scanner, which was the main tool used for 3D documentation as part of Legacy Program project #11-334. New equipment for 3D documentation of archaeological remains included hand-held devices: the Sense 3D scanner; the Structure Sensor scanner; and the Fuel 3D scanner. Each of these is evaluated in terms of each of use and effectiveness as a tool for 3D documentation in archaeology. The software used to create, edit, and distribute 3D digital models of artifacts and animal and human remains is reviewed as well, and the chapter closes with a basic workflow used to 3D scan an artifact, create a 3D digital model, and produce a 3D printed replica.
The importance of 3D printed replicas of archaeological remains for research, education, and outreach was also examined. Diagnostic projectile point, zooarchaeological, and human skeletal reference collections can be generated through 3D printing, which can be particularly important for an under-resourced collections facility. How 3D printed replicas can be integrated into classroom and field teaching of archaeological methods, occasional public outreach events, and dedicated interpretive programs is discussed.
The 3D digital models generated as part of DoD Legacy Program project #13-334 enhance the ability of archaeologist to accurately classify new archaeological findings and make comparisons to known diagnostic artifacts and animal remains. Archaeologists and other cultural resources personnel can use the 3D digital typologies of chipped stone tools and animal bones to accurately evaluate the research potential of archaeological sites to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The increased availability of diagnostic archaeological remains through electronic and web-based means minimizes the time archaeologists must spend traveling to, and interacting with, collections personnel, and thus reduces costs for archaeological survey and evaluation projects required for DoD installations under Sections 106 and 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The creation of 3D digital artifact models and 3D printed replicas also helps meet the objectives of interpretation and heritage tourism of Executive Order 13287 (Preserve America).
This study provides expanded guidance on the application of virtual curation to three-dimensional (3D) digital collections of artifacts that have been—or can be expected to be—found on Department of Defense (DoD) installations, building on an earlier DoD Legacy Program project (#11-334). The current DoD Legacy Program project (#13-134) was conceived of by Ms. Amy Woods, then Curator of Archaeology at the Fort Lee Regional Archaeological Curation Facility (RACF) and Dr. Bernard K. Means, Director of the Virtual Curation Laboratory). The new project was targeted toward the creation of digital type collections to ensure rapid and accurate identification of materials recovered from archaeological sites on DoD (and other) lands. 3D replicas printed from the digital models are also well suited to creating physical type collections, for incorporation into K-12 and undergraduate education, and for integration into public outreach efforts.
The VCL partnered with a wide range of cultural heritage institutions to obtain suitable material for creating digital type collections of chipped stone tools and zooarchaeological elements. Collections from Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia were part of these efforts. The zooarchaeological type collection includes a wide range of animals. Most of the zooarchaeological efforts drew on the extensive collections of the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Other categories of archaeological remains were scanned during the project period through the normal operation of the VCL, including objects associated with the Native American Monongahela tradition, Jamestown Rediscovery, George Washington, enslavement, and human skeletal remains.
Technical equipment used in 3D documentation of archaeological remains was examined as part of the current effort. This equipment included the NextEngine Desktop 3D scanner, which was the main tool used for 3D documentation as part of Legacy Program project #11-334. New equipment for 3D documentation of archaeological remains included hand-held devices: the Sense 3D scanner; the Structure Sensor scanner; and the Fuel 3D scanner. Each of these is evaluated in terms of each of use and effectiveness as a tool for 3D documentation in archaeology. The software used to create, edit, and distribute 3D digital models of artifacts and animal and human remains is reviewed as well, and the chapter closes with a basic workflow used to 3D scan an artifact, create a 3D digital model, and produce a 3D printed replica.
The importance of 3D printed replicas of archaeological remains for research, education, and outreach was also examined. Diagnostic projectile point, zooarchaeological, and human skeletal reference collections can be generated through 3D printing, which can be particularly important for an under-resourced collections facility. How 3D printed replicas can be integrated into classroom and field teaching of archaeological methods, occasional public outreach events, and dedicated interpretive programs is discussed.
The 3D digital models generated as part of DoD Legacy Program project #13-334 enhance the ability of archaeologist to accurately classify new archaeological findings and make comparisons to known diagnostic artifacts and animal remains. Archaeologists and other cultural resources personnel can use the 3D digital typologies of chipped stone tools and animal bones to accurately evaluate the research potential of archaeological sites to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The increased availability of diagnostic archaeological remains through electronic and web-based means minimizes the time archaeologists must spend traveling to, and interacting with, collections personnel, and thus reduces costs for archaeological survey and evaluation projects required for DoD installations under Sections 106 and 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The creation of 3D digital artifact models and 3D printed replicas also helps meet the objectives of interpretation and heritage tourism of Executive Order 13287 (Preserve America).