Cultural Heritage Objects Research Articles

DEVELOPING ENHANCED AND ENRICHED 3D MODELS OF CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSETS AS PART OF THE EU CO-FUNDED 5DCULTURE PROJECT

Abstract. 5Dculture is a 24-month collaborative project co-funded by the European Union. It includes twelve partners from diverse sectors of cultural heritage, including archaeology, museums and fashion. It aims to enrich the offer of European 3D digital cultural heritage assets in the data space and fosters their reuse in important domains such as education, tourism and the wider cultural and creative sectors towards socially and economically sustainable outcomes. In particular, the project will deliver high-quality 3D content by identifying and engaging existing datasets from partners’ collections focusing on topics of fashion, archaeology and architecture, all of which occupy a central place in the vast cultural heritage of Europe. It will also develop several reuse scenarios, which will experiment with the aforementioned assets in their complexity (from high-quality to derivatives).The Discovery Programme has a long research interest in 3D digital documentation and has participated in collaborative projects in the past, notably 3D-ICONS. However, opportunities and challenges in the reuse of 3D archaeological content exist, including the reuse of 3D content to enhance visitors experience at archaeological sites and the ability to exploit 3D surrogates for different sectors (tourism, education, gaming, the arts, conservation and heritage management).This paper will present the research that has been undertaken in this context, through the development of an enhanced processing pipeline to improve the quality of 3D models of cultural heritage assets, resulting in their improved re-use. It will present the approaches to improving model geometry, generating and applying enhanced textures, creating rich and functional metadata and strategies for persistence and archiving.A core component of our research has been the development of the processing pipeline to improve 3D model appearance through the application of parametric materials in the development of synthetic textures which artificially enhance the visualising of cultural heritage objects. Through the visual enhancements of 3D content improvements to the interpretation and aesthetic appearance of monuments and artefacts can be achieved, adding value to the original surveyed data. The paper will detail the processing pipeline, working from prime survey data in survey specific software, through 3D modelling techniques, and finally visualising and presentation approaches which enable increased accessibility and usability.The paper will conclude with a discussion of deliverables, particularly in the context of value to conservation. The Discovery Programme works together with many of the state agencies in Ireland on heritage and conservation projects, and it is the delivery of enhanced but practical outputs that their archaeologists and architects require. These include the Office of Public Works, National Monuments Service & the Heritage Council.

The Oddy Test and the Photographic Activity Test (PAT): A Direct Comparison of Accelerated Aging Test Methods for Assessing Storage, Display, and Transport Materials

ABSTRACT Two accelerated aging tests, the Oddy test and the Photographic Activity Test (PAT), are used to predict the safety of storage, display, or transport materials used near cultural heritage objects. Despite being designed to predict possible chemical damage for metallic and photographic objects, respectively, results from both tests are often applied toward other collection types. A direct comparison between the two tests was completed by evaluating the same set of thirty-five materials. Results indicated very little correlation between the tests, both when comparing overall results as well as on the level of individual detector responses. An additional comparison with the lead acetate test (LAT), a selective test for reduced sulfur compounds, provided further evidence that while the Oddy and PAT are reliable at predicting the effect of volatile gases on metals or reactions with materials in direct contact with photographs, respectively, they are responding to reactive species differently. The Oddy test and PAT are selective and sensitive, but each to different species and concentrations of reactive chemicals. The tests are most effective when applied toward the object types each was intended to mimic, and results from the two tests should neither be equated nor applied globally toward all collection types.

Angle-Dependent XRF Analyses: Pros and Cons of a Novel Technique in the Field of Cultural Heritage

In the cultural heritage field, non-invasive analyses are becoming more important as they avoid any sampling, allowing in situ measurements to be performed. XRF is one of the most common among those techniques, as it allows elemental speciation of the sample with a range that goes from F to U. However, the main limitation of this technique on cultural heritage objects is due to their intrinsic inhomogeneity, both lateral and in-depth. If MA-XRF has overcome the lateral inhomogeneity through the collection of multiple XRF spectra in different positions, it is more difficult to find an optimal way to perform in-depth analyses. Now, only confocal micro XRF allows for precise 3D analyses, as other techniques are limited to certain kinds of samples. In recent years, however, angle-resolved XRF has given promising results in the analysis of layered samples. In this study, we will review the information about this new analytical technique and its advantages and disadvantages in studying cultural heritage objects following our recent studies.

Complementary scientific techniques for the study of Mesoamerican greenstone objects

Jade and greenstone objects have been held in high regard by many cultures stemming from their limited geological availability and their unique optical and mechanical properties. Jade and greenstone objects symbolized life, fertility, and eternity to early Mesoamerican people. In recent years, scientific studies on jade and greenstone objects have been performed to establish provenance and usage, identify composition, and verify the presence of a particular material. These studies of jade and greenstone objects are generally divided geographically, with considerable interest in China and Central America. Most studies are focused on objects from one particular archaeological site; however, a few studies have focused on collections from a range of sites. The use of multiple complimentary analytical techniques has been shown to be the most effective method for characterizing and understanding the technical information obtained from cultural heritage objects. In our study, we examine a set of Mesoamerican jade and greenstone objects from the collection at the Dallas Museum of Art using multiple non-destructive techniques, including scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and handheld X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. We briefly discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each technique. Lastly, we present the results from our study and discuss them in their archaeological and historical context.

In-situ Artefact Documentation of Underwater Cultural Heritage Using Third-Party Data

Abstract Large underwater construction projects generate hundreds of potential cultural heritage objects requiring archaeological assessment and – potentially – mitigation. Some can easily be avoided in planning, whereas others cannot. Singular objects tend to present a dilemma in heritage management: their archaeological significance tends to lie in their association to an – at the time of finding – unknown context rather than in the object itself. Though these objects may be protected by heritage legislation, they are often undesired in museum collections, and even if destined for disposal, they can only be salvaged and documented at significant cost. Their cultural heritage ‘value’ is often, though mostly tacitly, considered low or at least undecided. We argue that in-situ preservation by record can be a viable solution for such objects, provided that appropriate documentation methods are employed. Fortunately, these objects are often targeted by other types of pre-construction surveys and inspections, usually conducted using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), making hours of third-party video footage available to the archaeologist. This article examines if existing third-party video inspection data can be used towards acceptable archaeological recording without compromising the cost-efficiency so crucial to the industry. Hence, the focus of this article is the typical industry-standard inspection-, work class-, or even low-end hobby-ROV (from where the jump to legacy data or, indeed, crowdsourcing is obvious), suggesting a few simple amendments to data acquisition specifications which may potentially save the cost of a dedicated archaeological inspection campaign.

Evaluate the effectiveness of the Storynomics Model in preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Sumbawa City in Indonesia

This study aims to find a model of cultural heritage development with a collaborative approach between cultural heritage and storynomics of sustainable tourism in Heritage City. Tourism potential of Sumbawa City's cultural heritage as a cultural heritage of the past with historical value, tourist attraction, and conservation-based tourism destinations that impact improving local community's economy. The research uses a descriptive, explanatory approach to cultural heritage objects. Data collection is obtained from informants as primary data to explore information about Sumbawa. In addition, data was obtained from the distribution of questionnaires to assess the physical condition of buildings and tourism performance and past literature documentation of Sumbawa. The results of this study provide an overview of the historical tourism of Sumbawa City, which presents the authenticity of the past as a sustainable historical tourist attraction. The review was conducted with social interaction theory with an analysis of the relationship between past events, traces of the history, local community culture, and historical sources that are the tourist attractions.

Initial development of Cotlin island south shoreline

The article considers the initial stages of developing the coastline of Kotlin Island in the first half of the 18th century. The construction of a unique system of fortifications and engineering structures and harbors for military and merchant ships was carried out according to the plan and under the leadership of Peter I. The oldest forts, the walls of the first Kotlin’s harbors, the initial docking channel, and the Italian pond were organized with the direct participation of the emperor in the period from 1704 to 1725. In the course of research, the author discovered archival materials that had not previously been introduced into scientific circulation. The article is published based on the results of a historical and cultural expertise along the southern coastline of Kotlin Island, aimed at identifying and preserving cultural heritage objects - coastal walls of harbors, fortifications and engineering structures.

Individually Integrated Virtual/Augmented Reality Environment for Interactive Perception of Cultural Heritage

The need to preserve and care for cultural heritage makes information technology a tool for finding, documenting, describing, and visualizing important historical and archaeological sites. This article offers an example of a demo platform providing users with a unique immersive experience in a virtual clothing museum environment. The proposed concept combines such types of media resources as audio, video, text, and 3D models of the virtual environment. The augmented reality elements perform the function of additional informing the users about certain facts about the exhibits. The methodology of platform development and the application's architecture are described. The creation of the platform is intended to achieve the objectives set by VR/AR technologies, namely, to provide a wide range of opportunities for interaction of the user with the objects of cultural heritage. The peculiarity of the application is the possibility to choose between exploring the objects of cultural heritage on one's own or following a programmed path with the help of an audio guide. The proposed solution can be used for stationary expositions of art objects, historical or archaeological relics, and objects of national economy and creativity. Testing of the demo version showed a rather high degree of user satisfaction (89% of respondents reported a positive experience). Users noted the atmospheric and immersive experience of virtual reality. The developed platform can perform educational and popularization functions.

Documentation and registration of damages and destructions of cultural heritage objects during the armed aggression of Russia against Ukraine

The purpose of the study is to highlight the main aspects of accounting and registration of national cultural heritage of Ukraine, to describe the current state of documentation of crimes committed by the russian federation against Ukrainian cultural heritage on the territory of Ukraine, and to outline the prospects for digitisation and creation of an online register of cultural heritage of Ukraine. The methodological approach of the study is based on the use of both general scientific and specific methods of cognition. These include: terminological analysis, systems analysis, as well as methods of analysis and synthesis, logical analysis, and visualisation of research results. The scientific novelty of this work lies in the systematisation and analysis of methods for documenting and registering damages and destructions of cultural heritage objects caused by russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine, which allows for a deeper understanding and assessment of the scale and consequences of such actions on cultural heritage. Conclusions. The protection and preservation of unique cultural heritage during the war have become priority tasks for cultural institutions across Ukraine. Currently, the documentation of destruction and damage caused by russian occupying forces is particularly critical. Cultural values are always at high risk during armed conflicts. The military actions of the russian federation have led to horrific crimes against cultural heritage, including the destruction and mass exodus of cultural values, the scale of which is shocking. Fully assessing the damage in combat zones and occupied territories remains impossible. Active evidence collection of Russia’s war crimes against Ukrainian culture is ongoing. The situation in the war with Russian occupiers highlights a blatant disregard for international norms and UNESCO conventions concerning the protection of cultural objects and art collections, as well as violations of all established laws and customs of war, which constitute a large-scale military crime

World Cultural Heritage: The Management of the Forbidden City

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study is to evaluate the system of dependencies and contradictions between the Forbidden City as an object of cultural heritage and the transformation of the historic environment. The research methodology is based on a comparative study of literary sources and quantitative and qualitative data analysis using the example of the study of the Forbidden City. Based on the analysis of existing concepts, a model for managing the changing historical environment within the framework of the sustainable development of the Forbidden City has been developed. According to the study, the Forbidden City today is between two complex processes related to preserving and transforming the historic environment. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of museums and collections of cultural relics in the urban historical environment of Beijing, which directly contributes to the growth of tourist activity. This model should be based on the interaction of innovative digitalisation tools, intelligent solutions in urban planning, a rational approach and cultural tourism. In practice, this will allow for the maintenance of a more reasonable population density and the rational location of industrial and economic facilities and preserve the traditional aesthetic.

Методика дослідження та пропозиції використання елементів нематеріальної культурної спадщини України для цілей туризму

Elements of intangible cultural heritage have relatively recently entered the structure of the potential of tourist resources. The complex nature and essence of the very elements of the intangible cultural heritage require the development of special methods for their research, based on the options for the possible use of these elements. In the study of intangible cultural heritage, the socio-geographical approach plays an important role. It is noted that it is more expedient to build the study of intangible cultural heritage on the basis of a component approach (which involves the consideration of intangible cultural heritage, on the one hand, as an integral part of cultural heritage in general, and on the other hand, as a component of the historical and cultural resources of a certain territory, a destination of a tourism region), as well as on the bases of a territorial approach. An algorithm for the socio-geographical study of intangible cultural heritage is proposed, which distinguishes three successive interrelated stages: preparatory; analytical and generalizing; recommendatory, each of these is divided into substages and carefully described. The place of objects of intangible cultural heritage in the historical and cultural potential of the territory is described. Among the many specialized types of tourism, the most expedient is the development of such types as: cultural and educational, rural, industrial, gastronomic, ethnographic, event (festival), religious, artistic, which contribute not only to the preservation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage, but also to the development of local economic potential and intercultural understanding. The proposed methodology for studying the elements of intangible cultural heritage is one of the options for conducting research on this topic, that in each case will need to be supplemented and refined, however, at the present stage, it can serve as a solid basis for starting and activating such research. The provided list of thematic types of tourism can also be elaborated on the basis of the use of objects of intangible cultural heritage, does not claim to be exclusively complete and can be expanded and supplemented, opening up prospects for further research in this direction.

Spaces of Memory: Historical Cemeteries of Ural Cities in the Context of Cultural Politics

This article examines historical burials and memorial ensembles included in the lists of cultural heritage sites in cemeteries of the Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk and Perm regions. The role of the cemetery is considered as an important socio-cultural urban space that preserves the memory of key historical events, significant historical figures, as well as crafts characteristic of specific territories, such as Kasli casting. It is shown that the way in which cemeteries and burials are included in the lists of cultural heritage sites varies from region to region. Thus, in the Chelyabinsk Region the most significant group of “necropolitan” cultural heritage objects is formed by many burials from the Civil War; at the same time, in the Perm Region, more often than in the Sverdlovsk and Chelyabinsk Regions, the graves of outstanding historical figures of the region were included in the lists of these objects. The article identifies the potential for the development of cemeteries as a kind of open-air museums, an important resource for the cultural economy of cities. The author substantiates the need to include these “lieux de mémoire” (using the concept proposed by P. Nora) in the cultural policy of cities, and in particular to create guides to the Ural necropolises, continuing the traditions of pre-revolutionary reference publications on the one hand, and rethinking cemeteries as platforms that participate in the formation and consolidation in the collective memory of narratives about local identity and the era as a whole, uniting the individual and the public. It is proposed that cemeteries and memorials, as objects of cultural policy, require special accounting and the development of a special system of management and conservation due to their specific qualities.

Proposal to Create a System of Archival Materials for the Preservation of Historical Objects of St. Petersburg

The subject of the study is the interest of specialists in the study and analysis of cultural heritage sites of St. Petersburg. The object of the study is an information resource on this topic - the city archives and electronic resources of St. Petersburg. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the need to optimize access to complete and reliable information on the cultural heritage of St. Petersburg. This information is disassembled from a variety of unrelated sources, which complicates the work of specialists in terms of quick access to complete information on the object. Analysis of the studies showed the relevance of the issue in obtaining materials on cultural heritage objects, but the method of optimal access to them has not been developed. On the basis of the considered problems, a hypothesis was built and an empirical study was carried out in the form of a survey of specialists in the sphere of preservation of cultural heritage objects of St. Petersburg. The results of the study made it possible to identify the problem of obtaining information and suggest a way to solve it. A proposal has been formulated to optimize the work of specialists, in terms of access to reliable and complete data on the cultural heritage of St. Petersburg. To do this, it is necessary to systematize archival sources and information systems for each object of cultural heritage into a single database. The authors have designated sections and headings of a single information source. The practical value of the study lies in the development of a proposal for the prompt receipt of information necessary for the design and other studies of cultural heritage sites in St. Petersburg. Its structure and approach to implementation are disclosed. A potential audience of specialists working in the field of conservation, use, promotion and state protection of cultural heritage sites of St. Petersburg is indicated. The results of the study can draw the attention of specialized specialists to the identified issues and become the basis for creating a system of archival materials for the preservation of historical objects of St. Petersburg.

Characterization and assessment of cleaning systems based on fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) for the removal of wax-based coatings from cultural heritage objects

FAMEs effectively remove beeswax and microcrystalline wax from stone and bronze with reduced environmental and health risks.

On the Measuring Capabilities of the Human Factor Risk when Designing Restoration Work on Objects of Immovable Cultural Heritage

On the Measuring Capabilities of the Human Factor Risk when Designing Restoration Work on Objects of Immovable Cultural Heritage

Методика выявления объектов нематериального культурного наследия в среде бытования этноса

The relevance of the topic is caused by the need to define the expeditionary methodology as the basis for promising research in the field of identifying the current state of intangible ethnocultural heritage. The purpose of this work is defined as the application of the proposed methods, techniques and principles for fixing ritual traditions, technologies of home crafts as objects of intangible ethnocultural heritage of the indigenous small–numbered people of Kuzbass - the Bachata Teleutes. The use of the methodology justified by the author made it possible to solve the problems of selecting objects of intangible heritage in the environment of the ethnic group and including the results obtained in the «Register of objects of intangible cultural heritage of the peoples of the Russian Federation».

Арктические музеи: сохранение культурного наследия Архангельской области

The paper’s subject is the experience of Arctic museums in the Arkhangelsk region as sites for preservation, popularization and revalorization of the Russian North and Arctic cultural heritage. The purpose is to analyze existing museum-themed exhibitions, thanks to which museums in Arkhangelsk and the region carry out their activities. Particular attention is paid to the “Malye Korely” museum-reserve of wooden architecture and folk art, which is included in the list of highly valuable objects of cultural and national heritage of the Russian Federation. The museum, using the example of the Mezen sector, provides an exposition of not only the northern Russian, but also the Arctic part of the region’s territory. The authors conclude that the Arctic museums of the Arkhangelsk region and the city of Arkhangelsk demonstrate various ways of creating and implementing Arctic museums in a modern socio-cultural environment, being an example of both traditional methods of museumification and the active use of modern multimedia technologies in terms of preservation and actualization of traditional culture in the Russian North and in the Arctic.

Enhancing Accessibility to Objects of Cultural Heritage in Cities of Syran Arab Republic: Challenges and Solutions

Historic city centres are significant cultural and economic hubs. However, they often encounter challenges in preserving their heritage amidst urbanisation and modernisation. This article presents an integrated approach that combines theoretical insights with innovative methodologies to address the urban planning dilemmas facing historic centres. Additionally, the article analyses mobility dynamics within these centres using analytical techniques to accurately decipher pedestrian and vehicular movement patterns. The objective of this article is to optimise street intersections and enable informed decisions in city design and infrastructure development through the use of mathematical analysis. The study analyses various transportation elements to gain a comprehensive understanding of the complex transportation system by linking them to key aspects. This study presents an integrated framework that promotes the development of adaptable transportation systems in urban environments. The aim is to facilitate innovative solutions and the seamless integration of diverse transportation modes into urban planning frameworks. The development of road networks in historic cities aims to balance cultural preservation with modern transportation integration, striving to maintain authenticity while implementing sustainable solutions.

Monumental mosaics as places of memory in public spaces of Ukraine

Background. Modernist monumental mosaics as an intrinsic part of Soviet cultural heritage are ubiquitously present all over the urban environments of Ukraine. With rare exceptions, they remain predominantly unacknowledged as being valuable objects of cultural heritage. Many fine works of monumental art are already lost and others remain under constant threat. The precarious situation of modernist mosaics calls for a thorough reexamination of a complex situation with memory politics in Ukraine overall. The goal of this article is to explore the theoretical-methodological framework of memory studies for its applicability to the analysis of socio-cultural value of Soviet monumental modernist mosaics within the context of their destruction by the ongoing process of commercialization and decommunization of public spaces in post-socialist cities. The research objectives are to investigate the current status of modernist mosaics within contemporary Ukrainian heritage preservation discourse and conceptualize it within the memory studies framework. Methods. Case studies, narrative and textual analysis, interdisciplinary integration of cultural and memory studies, application of the "collective memory" approach, synthesis of "postmemory" and "places of memory" concepts. Results. Created by Ukrainian monumental artists of the Soviet period, modernist mosaics are already deeply embedded within the urban environment. Within the framework of memory studies, modernist mosaics may serve as 'places of memory' of that particular period of history and in that way contribute to its reinterpretation and further formation of the complete image of city memory and of inclusive memory politics of Ukraine. Conclusions. The theoretical-methodological framework of memory studies appears to be an appropriate tool for analysis of socio-cultural value of monumental mosaics. There is a necessity for further inquiries into this field and its further engagement in the development of Ukrainian heritage preservation discourse.

Interactive map of social and cultural space of the Russian regional capital of the late XVIII - the first third of the XIX century (based on the materials of Tambov).

The object of the study is the social and cultural space of the city of Tambov in the late XVIII – the first third of the XIX century. The source base of the study consists of documents of several funds of the State Archive of the Tambov region, as well as plans of the city of Tambov in 1781, 1803, 1828 and 1832. The main goal of the study is to present the mechanism of creating an interactive map of the cultural space of the city of Tambov. In the research, in addition to classical historical methods, the systematization and analysis of statistical, record-keeping, cartographic and visual sources was carried out by using geo-information technologies. The main scientific result of the research was the samples of analyses of statistical and visual material of the interactive resource. The chosen platform made it possible to present the scientific results in the form of diagrams of the distribution of the share of different estates in separate quarters of the city, lists of demographic data on the population of Tambov; cards with reference historical data on the cultural heritage objects of the city. Specific results of the study include the determination of the number of quarters inhabited by these or those class groups, as well as the identification of whole groups of quarters marked by a noticeable homogeneity of the class composition of the population. The main methodological and technological result of the research is the provision of an efficient mechanism for analyzing urban space, systematization of data on its development and inhabitants, which can be available to a wide range of users. The information and technology of the proposed resource shows the possibilities of its use not only for research activities, but also for educational, excursion and museum work.