From individual artefacts to mass digitisation: Automated, non-invasive 3D scanning of archaeological small finds.

High-resolution 3D digitisation of small archaeological finds faces the challenge of reconciling conservation requirements with demanding standards of data quality, reproducibility and efficiency. Particularly in the case of sensitive materials, contactless methods are required to enable complete recording without imposing mechanical stress on the objects.

The paper presents the CyberGlobe system, an automated photogrammetric workflow that enables the non-invasive digitisation of archaeological objects while maintaining consistently high data quality. Controlled capture conditions and a largely automated process with minimal operator influence produce consistent, high-resolution 3D datasets with precise geometry and colourimetrically reliable textures. Complex geometries can be captured in their entirety without repositioning the object, thereby reducing both the risk to the archaeological material and potential sources of error.

A central focus is placed on the reproducibility of the results and the efficiency of data generation. Automated workflows enable comparable datasets to be produced across large numbers of objects while significantly reducing the time and labour required for each individual object. This makes the digitisation of extensive collections economically viable and allows it to be incorporated into scalable processes.

The resulting datasets also provide a basis for advanced visualisation and analytical techniques, such as Gaussian Splatting, opening up new possibilities for scientific analysis, digital interpretation and interactive presentation.

Selected case studies, including the digitisation of a Palaeolithic mammoth-ivory figurine, demonstrate that automated, non-invasive methods not only offer conservation benefits but can also make a decisive contribution to the wider availability of digital 3D data in archaeology through consistently high quality, reduced costs and high throughput rates.