Replicating degradable artefacts. A project for analysis and exhibition of early medieval objects from the Byzantine village at Scorpo (Supersano, Italy)

Artefacts found in an archaeological excavation are sometimes made of perishable or fragile material like wood, iron, or leather. These present obvious conservation problems. This is the case of various artefacts from the Byzantine village of Scorpo (Supersano, southern Italy) that has been the object of excavations by archaeologists from the University of Salento (Italy) since 1999. In 2007 a number of wooden objects were discovered in a well, while in 2012 a hoard of ferrous objects was found near a drystone wall that perhaps enclosed the settlement. Given the highly fragile and perishable nature of the objects, the questions arise as to how to study these artefacts, preserve them for the future and display them to the public. In this paper we will illustrate the methodology developed at the University of Salento to give an answer to all these questions and we will describe the entire process ranging from the discovery of the artefacts, to their 3D digital acquisition and modeling, the eventual digital restoration, the realization of one or more physical copies using a rapid prototyping apparatus (RP), to their display in a museum. Digital models of artefacts and ancient contexts are increasingly used in museums in order to improve communication, also for the disabled. Furthermore, the resin replica of an object, created from its digital 3D model, can also be useful for its preservation and fruition, especially if it is fragile or in poor condition.