This week we created 3D models of artifacts from Carleton’s teaching museum using ReCap Pro. My group was tasked with recreating the “Pot with Large Swirls”. Beyond its name and appearance, we don’t yet have details on its historical/cultural significance.
Upon arrival at the museum classroom, Teresa Lenzen, the technical director for the museum, already had the pot ready for pictures. The optimal lighting provided for good quality pictures. I was able to easily rotate around it, capturing a wide range of angles. A tricky part was getting a picture of the top of the pot due to its height. The pot also has a concave structure, causing the inside to be pitch black and not fully visible. Therefore, it didn’t translate entirely accurately into our 3D model. Besides the top/interior, I was very impressed with the level of detail ReCap Pro illustrated the model.
The process of photogrammetry allowed me to view the pot in a different light than if I were just a passive observer. In order to create the most accurate representation possible, I wanted to ensure that I captured every detail. I noticed aspects of the pot that I otherwise wouldn’t have as a passive observer, such as the overall structure and curvature and the detailed designs lining the sides. This gave me a greater appreciation for the effort, attention to detail, and immense skill that must have gone into creating this piece.
Now having first-hand experience with the level of accuracy 3D modeling sites can recreate tangible objects, I think the digitalization of museums will massively change how people interact with artifacts. One example of this is the Virtual Hampson Museum featuring Native American history and objects. The site allows users to engage with the artifacts more interactively than if they were to view them from behind an enclosed container at a museum. When discussing the widespread distribution of cultural artifacts, I think it is essential to recognize the massive scale at which many of these objects were stolen through colonialist and imperialist endeavors. I wonder how we can most ethically source these artifacts and reconcile past harm as museums move toward digitalization.
