Digital Heritage at HCCH
The HCCH's research focus on digital heritage centres on the 3D digitisation of cultural heritage, creating extremely high-resolution digital copies and textures that accurately represent the original object.
Since 2020, the flagship initiative 'Transforming Cultural Heritage' has provided generous financial support, enabling the establishment of a research infrastructure for the comprehensive 3D recording and digitisation of material cultural heritage. This ranges from tiny objects (minimum 2 mm) to entire cultural landscapes (20 km). The available equipment includes hand-held grazing light scanners, terrestrial laser scanners, drones, surveying equipment, photogrammetry equipment and various elements of geoprospecting. Together, this equipment enables the collection of 3D data in a variety of ways. This data is used to create high-resolution 3D models, which will be made accessible via a repository. Ultimately, these models are intended to bring clear added value to the research of the objects.
Barbarathermen 3D – Digitization and new presentation of the UNESCO World Heritage site in Trier
A central component of the FI TCH-funded research project, 'Transforming Cultural Heritage in 3D', conducted in collaboration with the Rhineland-Palatinate Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage, is the implementation of a lighthouse project showcasing best practices in knowledge transfer and communication. This project involves the 3D digitisation and redesign of a digital presentation of the Trier Barbara Baths, part of the World Heritage Site "Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier”. The thermal baths, which were the second largest bathing complex in the Roman Empire at the time of their construction in the 2nd century AD, represent a cultural heritage site that has been the subject of controversy and which is to be presented in a completely new way using digital communication concepts. Additionally, digitisation provides a wealth of research data on this facility, which originally covered 42,500 square metres and is considered a technical masterpiece of ancient architecture.
The final model of the facility serves as the basis for digital communication concepts and provides a powerful tool for monitoring the World Heritage Site, as well as an innovative archive for research data. Alongside research into the theoretical foundations of digitising cultural assets, the practical side of the research project takes an innovative approach to technical implementation, for example in the processing and handling of extremely large amounts of data generated by the digitization strategy. Additionally to the ruins, archaeological finds from the site are being digitised, including the famous torso of an Amazon statue.
The 3D digitization of Götz von Berlichingen's 'Iron Hand'
In the 18th century, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote his play Götz von Berlichingen as a literary tribute to the renowned imperial knight, which is still widely read and discussed today. The historical figure lost his right hand in battle at the start of his military career. The ‘iron hand’ commissioned by Götz von Berlichingen afterwards is one of the most famous mechanical full prostheses of the 16th century and is still in the possession of the von Berlichingen family at Jagsthausen Castle. It is displayed in a small museum there and is open to the public. A new initiative by the History Department at Heidelberg University, in collaboration with students, a radiologist from Bethanienklinik, a scientist from the Faculty of Medicine, a watchmaker and experts from the HCCH, aims to re-examine the 'iron hand' from a scientific perspective, conduct a comprehensive investigation and present it in a new light as part of a small exhibition. As part of this project, the artefact was comprehensively digitised in 3D using the research infrastructure acquired by the flagship initiative 'Transforming Cultural Heritage'.
3D scans of Romanesque stucco fragments from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of St. Michael's Church in Hildesheim
The Hornemann Institute project, 'The Romanesque Stucco Fragments from the UNESCO World Heritage Church of St. Michael in Hildesheim', focuses on the research and conservation of approximately 260 fragments of a broken choir screen from the former abbey church of St. Michael in Hildesheim. These fragments were rediscovered during archaeological excavations in the 19th and 20th centuries. HCCH staff have scanned most of these extremely fragile pieces in 3D, as well as the preserved north wing of the 12th-century Romanesque screen. These scans will be used for further detailed studies of the stucco fragments as part of the ongoing project, and will also play a key role in the virtual reconstruction of the screen.
The digitised images also enable digital object handling, which would not be possible with the fragile originals. One of the initial research findings was the identification of a previously unknown colour version of the stucco work.
Digitisation of the Gladiator Mosaic in Villa Nenning
The Roman villa in Nennig, Saarland, is home to the largest ancient mosaic north of the Alps. Dating from the 3rd century AD, the gladiator mosaic covers an area of around 160 square metres and consists of over 3 million stones. It depicts scenes of ancient gladiator fights and animal hunts. For the first time, HCCH staff has created a high-resolution digital copy of the mosaic by scanning it. This model provides a precise description of the condition of each stone, offering the first comprehensive documentation of both the original and the various restorations. It also provides an important part of the planned enhancement of the Roman Villa Nennig and its mosaic for a presentation within in the newly designed permanent exhibition in the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte der Stiftung Saarländischer Kulturbesitz in Saarbrücken.
Unique digital collection is currently being created at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lorsch Abbey.
In cooperation with the Heidelberg Center for Cultural Heritage (HCCH) at Heidelberg University, the Zentrum für Zugrinderforschung und –ausbildung, located at the Lauresham Open-Air Laboratory (UNESCO World Heritage Site Lorsch Abbey, State Castles and Gardens of Hesse), has begun creating a digital collection on the subject of draft horse harnessing. As a first step, the yokes that were previously on display in the "Yoke-Joug-Ayoko: A Cultural History of the Yoke', were scanned in 3D. The yokes, which are made of wood in combination with textiles, leather and metal, present particular technical challenges for digital recording. The medium-term goal is to compile a representative collection of methods and devices used for harnessing draft cattle around the world.
Digitisation of architectural elements and inscriptions at the Maulbronn Monastery World Heritage Site
As part of the building survey of the former Cistercian monastery in Maulbronn, conducted by the Chair of Medieval Art History at the Institute of European Art History at Heidelberg University, staff from the Heidelberg Centre for Cultural Heritage (HCCH) worked on the 3D digitisation of various components of the cloister and individual architectural elements. This included a tomb inscription of a Maulbronn abbot, which was previously only documented in two dimensions and is now walled up on the outside of the abbey church choir.
Digitisation of cultural monuments in the Kathmandu Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nepal.
As part of the Nepal Heritage Documentation Project, a collaboration between the South Asia Institute at Heidelberg University and Kathmandu University, which aims to systematically record endangered cultural monuments in the Kathmandu Valley, HCCH staff have digitally scanned various monuments in 3D, including stupas, smaller temples and fountains. Data collection on site was carried out with the help of Nepalese project staff and students from Kathmandu University. Participants received an introduction to digital recording methods and had the opportunity to obtain a certificate of participation.
