Digital Artifact Archiving: Three-Dimensional Modeling and Database Development for Internet Dissemination

A grant number from the Northwest Academic Computing Consortium (NWACC) was brought to completion at the end of May, 2001. The NWACC funding ($30,000) was used to allow faculty and students at North Dakota State University (NDSU), in collaboration with faculty and
students at the University of Oregon, to carry out the seed project for an innovative application and dissemination of technology. As stated in the proposal to NWACC:

The goal of the proposed technology application is the creation of a prototype database and procedure for archiving and disseminating three-dimensional (3D) models and assorted textual information. We will focus on two data sets to develop a protocol for digital databases with 3D components: one that concentrates on archaeological artifacts, and the other on hominid cranial endocasts. While these databases will be important contributions to anthropology in their own right, they will serve the more important function of test cases for digital archiving of any type of material objects rendered in 3D. Digital archives and interactive databases offer the most effective method for storage and dissemination of electronic data, and facilitate the enhancement of instructional programs.

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