Morgantina collection
Morgantina collection 3D scanned by Artec Spider
3D scanning for historical restoration is quickly becoming one of the most exciting examples of 3D scanning and printing technology. Having recently teamed with Threeding to scan cultural heritage pieces, leading 3D scanning company Artec, has helped to capture a priceless part of Sicilian culture.
A total of 16 unique items dating back to Ancient Greece have been 3D scanned with the high precision, industrial standard Artec Spider. The Morgantina treasure, including pieces of Hellenistic silverware with gold detailing, have been excavated and brought back to life from as far was the 3rd century BC.
The collection includes nine pieces of dishware, a medallion with a representation of Scylla, a pair of bovine horns and a religious cylindrical altar.
Found somewhere between 1978 and 1981, the collection has been on display in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and now resides in the Archaeological Museum of Aidone.
Morgantina collection
3D scanner can capture the finest details in high accuracy.
In a bid to preserve the collection and make it available to researchers internationally, the Aidone Museum, the Regional Ministry of Culture and Sicilian Identity and the Polytechnic School of the University of Palermo set out to create a digital archive of the finds.
The accuracy of the Artec Spider 3D scanner allowed the group to capture every delicate detail in high accuracy and in real time. Using Artec Studio software, an complete digital model was returned for each object and exported for post-processing in Leios software.
The models are set to be used by the Museum of Aidone when the collection is exhibited at other venues.
The museum joins a growing number of fellow institutions that are leveraging 3D scanning technology and 3D printing to preserve and replicate precious historical items to produce digital collections and introduce new revenue schemes.
