Ötzi’s digital twin: Setting new standards in digital preservation
Ötzi the Iceman can now be studied in even greater detail without removing the delicate mummy from his refrigerated cell. Commissioned by the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, an interdisciplinary team led by archaeologist Luca Bezzi of Arc-Team has created the first digital twin of the Iceman and his equipment. The results have now been published in the international scientific journal "Heritage".
What makes the project unique is that, for the first time, high-resolution images of Ötzi’s body surface and CT data from inside the mummy have been combined in a single three-dimensional model.
Researchers can therefore examine both the surface and the interior of the mummy virtually, view them from different angles, take measurements, and explore the body along different planes.
The digital documentation also includes key items of Ötzi’s clothing and equipment. Because fur, leather, wood, copper, plant fibres, flint, skin and ice all reflect light differently, the imaging method had to be adapted to each material. Artificial intelligence was also used to capture the complex structure of the bearskin cap.
The digital twin is not only valuable for research. It also provides a precise record of Ötzi’s current state of preservation. If this form of documentation is repeated regularly, even the smallest changes can be detected and compared.
“Our most important task is to permanently preserve the Iceman and his unique equipment while also facilitating scientific research,” emphasizes Elisabeth Vallazza, director of the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. “Digital twins bring both of these goals together: they document the condition of the objects with unprecedented accuracy, protect the objects, and make valuable research data available for long-term use.”
The press release:
Press information - South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology
Photo:
The digital twin of Ötzi the Iceman. The image shows both the high-resolution textured 3D mesh and its underlying polygonal wireframe representation
© South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology / Arc-Team
