In partnership with the Central 3D Facility at TU Berlin, experiments were conducted to digitize five cylinder seals from the Institute of Near Eastern Archaeology’s collection at FU Berlin.
Led by Prof. Elisa Roßberger, the project aimed to explore how to successfully create 3D models of these over 3,000-year-old objects. Their small size, fine surface structures, and shiny, slightly translucent material pose particular challenges for 3D scanning that could only be overcome with the Central 3D Facility’s state-of-the-art Nanotom M micro-computed tomography scanner.
Another question was what added value could be achieved by creating an interactive 3D model with regard to researching the nature and manufacture of cylinder seals. Regarding the geometry of the central holes in particular, which allow conclusions to be drawn about the techniques used, 3D digitization provides interesting starting points for further research.
Joachim Weinhold carried out the scans and reports on the conceptual considerations involved in selecting the technology and the experiences gained during implementation in a detailed article on our blog.
