Photogrammetry and macrophotography. The experience of the MUSINT II Project in the 3D digitizing process of small size archaeological artifacts

Stefano MARZIALI¹ | Giulia DIONISIO²
(¹Accademia di Belle Arti di Verona, Italy | ²University of Florence, Italy)

Keywords: photogrammetry, macrophotography, glyptic, interactive museum, workflow

Abstract:
The MUSINT II project was created to publicize and promote the minoan glyptic, a little-known archaeological heritage. Its contents were designed to involve both specialists and a general public (adults and children).
The project assembles a single tipology of objects, the whole of the sealed administrative documents discovered at Haghia Triada in Crete and collected in two italian museums, in Rome and Florence (see the contribution by Jasink et alii for a general view). Particularly, this interactive museum focuses on the 3D digitalization of 18 very small (about 2 cm diameter) minoan seals, stored in the archives of the National Archaeological Museum of Florence and not visible to the public.
The digitalization of these artifacts requires a high quality resolution technique capable of capturing their morphology and decorative motives and, at the same time, appeals to the aforementioned educational targets.
For this reason, the Structure from Motion (SfM) Photogrammetry was chosen. This technology makes it possible to obtain three-dimensional reproductions from random photographs made by non-dedicated devices, but the tiny-object survey required specific instruments and skills.
A macrophotography technique was applied together with a specific workflow to obtain high quality photogrammetric models and to save time in acquiring and processing images. With this methodology we obtained 3D models of high metric precision mesh and maximum color fidelity textures. This process delivers results of high level detail for low capital costs and minimal acquisition and processing time (4 hours).

Relevance conference | Relevance session:
The photogrammetric technique is applied to very small size archaeological artifacts.

Innovation:
Development of a specific workflow for SfM photogrammetry applied to an interactive museum for the disclosure of little-known archaeological artifacts.

References:
ALBERTINI, N. / JASINK, A.M. / MONTECCHI, B. (2014): Digital acquisition and modeling of the Minoan seals and sealings kept in two italian Museums, Proceedings of the CHNT 18, 1-22.
JASINK, A.M. (2009): La collezione di sigilli e cretule egee, in (A.M. Jasink and L. Bombardieri eds.), Le Collezioni egee del Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Firenze, 77-88.