An Investigation of Changes to the Perception of Historical Artefacts Brought About by 3D Scanning Technologies

Abstract

Technological advancements have continually transformed how societies perceive and engage with both past and present events. More recently, developments in 3D scanning and modelling technologies have begun reshaping the ways in which historical artefacts are studied, interpreted, and disseminated. Despite the growing use of these technologies in museums, archives, and historical research, their broader cultural and ethical implications remain underexplored due to the field's interdisciplinary nature. This research examines how digital technologies, particularly 3D scanning and photogrammetry, are influencing contemporary engagements with history. The study draws on a wide range of literature, from Walter Benjamin’s essay on Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction including Māori perspectives on photography and cultural representation, alongside qualitative research including public surveys, focus groups, and expert interviews. The findings reveal a cautious but optimistic embrace of 3D scanning technologies by both public participants and academic professionals. While participants recognised the potential of digital technologies to increase accessibility and public engagement with history, they also expressed concerns regarding authenticity, cultural context, technological inequality, and the ethical implications of digital reproduction. The research suggests that the increasing dissemination of digital artefacts may fundamentally reshape how historical artefacts are experienced, creating both the risk of disconnection from material and cultural context and the possibility for broader, more democratic forms of historical engagement. While this study focuses specifically on 3D scanning technologies, it also highlights the wider impact digital technologies are having on contemporary historiography.