Introduction

This contribution describes the experience conducted by students Chiara Alessandrello, Eliana Marano, and Chiara Sarcià within the student exchange program of the ARTEST project (Enhancing Education Programs in Arts and Humanities via EU STEM Methods and Technologies). The project involves five European universities: the University of Cologne (Germany), the Cyprus University of Technology (Cyprus), the University of Catania (Italy), the University of the Peloponnese (Greece), the International Hellenic University (Greece), and institutions in Mongolia: the Mongolian University of Science & Technology, the National University of Mongolia, and the University of the Humanities. Its aim is to develop a study program in Digital Humanities applied to cultural heritage.

This initiative addresses the growing need to train highly qualified professionals in the arts and culture sector capable of tackling the challenges posed by the digital era.

The main objectives include:

• Developing an innovative teaching methodology that integrates research methods from traditional humanities, Digital Humanities, and STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).
• Training faculty to ensure the effective adoption and application of the new methodology.
• Introducing and launching a new Master’s program with the possibility of international student exchanges between higher education institutions.
• Establishing a Digital Lab where postgraduate students can collaborate on international projects aimed at preserving and enhancing cultural heritage.

As part of this project, training activities included a student exchange between European and Mongolian universities. Specifically, as students of the Civil and Architectural Engineering program at the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture of the University of Catania, we were hosted by the Department of Archaeology at the National University of Mongolia (NUM) to learn the use of new digitization technologies and programs for the virtual reconstruction of the region’s cultural and archaeological heritage. 

Project overview

The work at the Department of Archaeology focused on understanding and analyzing Mongolian cultural heritage, supported by PhD students and professors with archaeological expertise. Specifically, the project centered on digitally reconstructing archaeological artifacts from the Xiongnu period (3rd century BCE), originating from the burials of high-ranking individuals in the Arkhangai Tamiriin Ulaan Khoshuu area, discovered in 2005.

Using digital surveying techniques, the team aimed to create digital reconstructions with identical geometric and qualitative features as the originals, which would then form the basis for producing physical models via 3D printing. 

Mini project

The methodological process was divided into three phases:

1. Surveying
   • Range-based techniques.
   • Image-based techniques.
2. 3D Printing
3. Comparison
   • Qualitative.
   • Quantitative.

1. Surveying phase

The lab selected several archaeological artifacts to digitize, including terracotta vases, a stone roof tile, a bronze plate, and an iron horse stirrup. Digital models were created using two different techniques: laser scanning and photogrammetry.

The laser scanner survey was performed using the EinScan-SP scanner, producing a textured .obj file later used for 3D printing.

The photogrammetry survey involved creating photographic datasets processed with two different software tools, Recap Photo and Metashape, to produce digital models. These models differed quantitatively and qualitatively from the laser scan data. 

2. 3D Printing

The .obj file was imported into Creality Print, the software of the 3D printer manufacturer Creality. Before printing, the object was resized, rotated, and the print settings adjusted.

3. Comparison

The comparison phase analyzed models obtained from laser scanning and photogrammetry (Recap Photo and Metashape) to determine the best method in terms of quality (level of detail) and quantity (file size and number of photos).

The object of study, among the various finds, is a terracotta vase (diameter greater than 8 cm and a base diameter of 5.9 cm, height of 4.8 cm and a thickness of 0.9 cm) from the era of Xiongnu, the first Mongol empire in history, dating back approximately 2000 years.

The results showed that photogrammetry using Metashape provided the best quality in terms of object reproduction and information quantity. While the laser scanner technique was faster, it yielded lower-quality results.

Conclusion

Digital tools and technologies are ideal for designing, managing, and preserving cultural and artistic heritage, serving as a testament to the past and a resource of knowledge to safeguard for the future.. This work demonstrates how digital innovation can be applied to archaeological objects, presenting opportunities for expanding its use to other research fields.

This mini-project will be expanded into three separate articles, one for each student, covering the phases of the methodology in detail.