Archaeological Practice and 3D Modeling: A Medieval Ceramic Assemblage from Nemea, Greece

Abstract

This paper explores the link between archaeology and the digital humanities, especially the adoption of 3D modeling technology, which is becoming an integral part of archaeological practice. Here we present a case study, a sample of 3D models from a large collection of well-preserved medieval ceramics from the excavations of the Sanctuary of Zeus at Nemea, Greece. This growing digital collection can illustrate the advantages, potential, and challenges presented by the incorporation of 3D technology into archaeological practice. 3D modeling technology can facilitate documentation, interpretation, and publication of archaeological datasets. However, the longevity of these datasets remains uncertain and require extensive dialogue and collaboration, as storage space requirements, support of current digital infrastructure, and long-term data accessibility and preservation are matters that do not have standardized solutions. More effort needs to be invested in preserving these large datasets before 3D modeling can become fully incorporated into archaeological practice.