Three Dimensional modelling in Archaeology
Abstract
The rapid development of digital documentation technologies has created new opportunities for the recording, interpretation, conservation and dissemination of archaeological heritage. Among these technologies, close-range photogrammetry and 360° imaging provide comparatively accessible approaches for generating detailed three-dimensional representations of archaeological structures and objects. This expanded study examines three complementary applications of digital heritage documentation: the Temple of Apollo Pythios at Gortyn in Crete, the archaeological site of Nora in Sardinia, and archaeological artefacts from the Museo Civico agli Eremitani in Padua. The three cases represent different documentation requirements: metric 3D reconstruction and stratigraphic interpretation, immersive virtual-tour development, and high-resolution digitization of small and medium-sized museum objects. The workflow integrates image acquisition, photogrammetric reconstruction or spherical imaging, quality control, model optimization, metadata organization and web-based visualization. The case studies demonstrate that digital documentation can supplement conventional archaeological recording by preserving spatial, geometric and visual information in a reusable digital form. At Gortyn, close-range photogrammetry supports the analysis of architectural and stratigraphic elements and displaced architectural members. At Nora, 360° imaging supports a navigable virtual-tour environment that extends access beyond the physical site. At the Museo Civico agli Eremitani, photogrammetric models provide a digital representation of objects that can be examined remotely and catalogued with contextual metadata. The study also identifies practical limitations, including lighting conditions, reflective surfaces, image alignment, large point clouds, texture management, geometric gaps and the need for model simplification. The expanded framework provides a reproducible basis for future archaeological digitization projects and highlights the importance of combining technical accuracy with archaeological interpretation and sustainable digital dissemination.
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