Video | New Eyes on Old Objects: teaching archaeology with photogrammetry | Alix THOEMING, Lesley BEAUMONT, Simon WYATT-SPRATT | 2020
Jill Decrop Ernst
06 May, 2024
This video introduces a trial digitization initiative between the University of Sydney Department of Archaeology, Arts eLearning and Sydney University Museums. Their endeavor aimed at extending students’ access to the collection.
This source is especially interesting because it reflects on the use, benefits, and challenges of photogrammetric models as pedagogical tools, when there has been little formal discussion on this topic.
Thoeming et al (2020) provide information on specific softwares used to make models and compare photogrammetry to other methods, which makes this source concrete and useful to help viewers reflect on what tools would benefit their practices.
If you are interested in reading more about the use of different technologies in OBTL see section 3. OBTL Tools from the State of the Field. Section 2. Tools further introduces tools used by teaching with objects practitioners.
What was most striking to me is their reflection on digital accessibility. While digitizing objects might be more inclusive for people who typically do not have access to museum collections, it can also have the opposite effect. This raises the question, what could be done to make up for these limitations?
For more information on inclusivity and teaching with objects refer to section 4.2 Inclusivity in the State of the Field.
Link to the source:
CAA Australasia. (2020). New Eyes on Old Objects: teaching archaeology with photogrammetry | Thoeming et al. | CAAA2020. YouTube. Retrieved April 25, 2023, from
Link to digitalized collection
Related sources:
Porter, S., Roussel, M., & Soressi, M. (2016). A Simple Photogrammetry Rig for the Reliable Creation of 3D Artifact Models in the Field: Lithic Examples from the Early Upper Paleolithic Sequence of Les Cottés (France). Advances in Archaeological Practice, 4(1), 71-86. doi:10.7183/2326-3768.4.1.71
Ortiz, Juan & Gil, Ma & Rego-Sanmartín, T. & Arza-García, Marcos & Tucci, Grazia & Parisi, Erica & Bonora, Valentina & Mugnai, Francesco. (2020). D3MOBILE METROLOGY WORLD LEAGUE: TRAINING SECONDARY STUDENTS ON SMARTPHONE-BASED PHOTOGRAMMETRY. ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences.