ABSTRACT
WP9 developed TAURUS, a software and methodological toolkit for the 3D visualisation and analysis of cultural heritage artefacts, with particular focus on fragile objects such as cuneiform tablets and sealed bullae. It is primarily designed for researchers in religious studies and archaeology, but is also applicable across other domains. The toolkit consists of three main components: EnLil (Enhancement of Little Curved Object Representation, focused on tablets and seals), MiRAr (Mixed Reality for Archaeology, for 3D reconstruction and immersive visualisation), and ACIS (Artworks Conservation Integrated Sources, for integrating conservation and research data). Together, these components form a coherent workflow from acquisition to interpretation and dissemination.
RESULTS AND TOOLS
TAURUS established an advanced experimental framework for validating and implementing state‑of‑the‑art 3D acquisition and processing technologies applied to archaeological and religious artefacts, rather than a single monolithic prototype. The project carried out comparative benchmarking of structured‑light scanners, laser scanners, and photogrammetric workflows, evaluated in terms of geometric accuracy, resolution, surface fidelity, and repeatability. Standardised acquisition protocols were defined for small, medium, and large artefacts, including calibration procedures, controlled lighting conditions, multi‑angle capture strategies, and error assessment. The processing pipeline includes tie‑point extraction, mesh generation, texture mapping, and geometric validation. High‑resolution surface models enable morphometric, micro‑topographic, and palaeographic analysis of seal impressions and cuneiform tablets, supporting the detection and enhancement of surface features, fingerprints, and traces of production.
CASE STUDIES
Cuneiform Tablets (Musei Reali di Torino). Approximately 300 tablets were scanned and processed using TAURUS workflows, allowing the detection of pre‑writing seal impressions and the enhancement of palaeographic and material analysis.
Sealed Bullae (Boğazköy). Around 250 sealed bullae were analysed, supporting the reconstruction of storage and administrative practices and the identification of container traces and fingerprints.
Terracottas (Seleucia). TAURUS methods were applied to terracotta objects from Seleucia, focusing on fingerprint analysis and providing evidence that supports hypotheses of child involvement in production processes.
TEAM
The WP9 TAURUS team, coordinated by Stefano De Martino, included Filippo Diara, Francesco G. Barsacchi, Vito Messina, Maria Beatrice Failla, and Giovanni Novero (Ph.D candidate) all from the University of Turin. The group combined expertise in 3D metric surveying, computer graphics, archaeology, and religious studies to align technological development with heritage research and conservation needs.
BEYOND ITSERR
The technologies and methodologies developed can be applied in museums and international collections, particularly in contexts lacking advanced 3D infrastructures. The use of portable scanners enables in situ documentation, reducing risks associated with artefact handling. The TAURUS framework and best‑practice guidelines support digital heritage projects, education, museum training, and international collaborative research initiatives requiring precise 3D documentation, immersive visualisation, and integration of conservation information.