Immersive 3D Technology Reshapes the Study of the Human Past

Revolutionizing Archaeology: Bridging the Past and Future with Cutting-Edge Tech

Archaeology, the science of unearthing and interpreting humanity’s ancient past, is entering a transformative era. Researchers at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) Faculty of Arts have unveiled an innovative approach, combining Mixed Reality (MR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies with excavation practices. This groundbreaking work not only enhances documentation and analysis but also redefines how archaeologists interact with their data in real-time.

A New Way to Study Ancient Artifacts

For decades, archaeologists have relied on traditional methods to analyze artifacts and architectural remains. While digital 3D modeling of excavation sites is now common, its full potential has remained untapped, primarily serving as a tool for public engagement and education.

“Archaeologists must have their hands free while recording data, since we need to hold our trowels and brushes while digging,” explained Professor Peter J. Cobb, an archaeologist leading the initiative at HKU.

HKU Faculty of Arts Professor Peter J. Cobb compares the 3D model of a virtual pottery sherd with an adjoining real sherd. The small photo is what he sees in the MR headset. (Photo credit: HKU Faculty of Arts)

By integrating MR and AR headsets into active fieldwork, the HKU team is harnessing the power of these technologies to fundamentally change excavation practices.

3D model of a virtual pottery sherd from the MR headset. (Photo credit: HKU Faculty of Arts)

Practical Innovations on Site

MR headsets, such as the Microsoft HoloLens 2, overlay 3D models onto the physical world, enabling archaeologists to visualize removed structures like walls or pottery in their original positions while excavating.

“By wearing an MR device while I dig, I can virtually see a removed wall at its original location,” said Professor Cobb. “This helps me decide where to dig next, and I can compare, in situ, multiple sections of ancient architecture that were removed at different times.”

The Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project site. What exists in the real world, and (small photo) the view from within the MR headset, where both a grey stone wall and a brown pottery vessel are virtually visible in their original positions, even though they were actually removed a year earlier. (Photo credit: HKU Faculty of Arts)

Additionally, AR smart glasses provide archaeologists with hands-free data recording capabilities. Equipped with cameras, microphones, and small display screens, these devices allow researchers to capture photos, take notes via voice recognition, and interact with their environment without interrupting their workflow.

A Breakthrough in Armenia

The HKU team tested their innovative approach at a field site in Armenia, a region with a rich Early Bronze Age history. Led by Armenian-born PhD candidate Hayk Azizbekyan, the team excavated ancient stone walls and pottery vessels, which were carefully removed to access earlier layers of remains.

“MR and AR headsets have never been used before at an actual archaeological excavation project to support the digging work of a team,” Azizbekyan noted. “This is our game-changing innovation. We call this project our ‘vision for the future’ since the technology enables new ways of ‘viewing’ the past.”

The use of MR also extended to comparative analysis. The team matched 3D scanned pottery fragments with physical artifacts, streamlining their study of sherds located in distant museum collections. They envision AI-driven tools in the future that will automatically match fragment shapes, further enhancing artifact analysis.

Publication and Future Directions

These innovations were recently detailed in the Journal of Computer Applications¹ in Archaeology (JCAA),

“It was interesting—the journal faced challenges finding peer reviewers since our approach was so novel,” remarked Professor Cobb.

The team also shared their findings during a presentation at New York University’s Institute for the Study of the Ancient World (ISAW) on November 13, 2024.

The view of Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project site from within the MR headset, where both a grey stone wall and a brown pottery vessel are virtually visible in their original positions, even though they were actually removed a year earlier. (Photo credit: HKU Faculty of Arts)

Beyond Archaeology: The Arts-Tech Partnership

This interdisciplinary research exemplifies the synergy between humanities and engineering. HKU’s Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing, part of the Faculty of Engineering, provided the technological expertise and equipment necessary for the project. Recognizing the limitations of existing MR/AR hardware, the team is now developing custom-designed smart glasses tailored to archaeological fieldwork.

Redefining Archaeological Exploration

The integration of MR and AR technologies marks a significant leap forward for archaeology. By combining real-time visualization, hands-free data collection, and advanced artifact analysis, these tools enable archaeologists to interact with the past in unprecedented ways. This “vision for the future” represents a pivotal moment, demonstrating how innovation can preserve and illuminate humanity’s shared history.

1. Cobb, P. J., & Azizbekyan, H. (2024). Experiments with mixed and augmented reality (MR/AR) for archaeological data collection and use during fieldwork: Vision for the future. Journal of Computer Applications in Archaeology, 7(1), 370–387. https://doi.org/10.5334/jcaa.140