Show HN: I 3D scanned the tunnels inside the Maya Pyramid Temples at Copan
Archaeologists have excavated Copan's acropolis since the 1930s, revealing significant artifacts. A Harvard-led conservation plan aims to preserve the site and create a digital 3D model of the tunnels.
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Since the 1930s, archaeologists have been excavating the acropolis at Copan to explore its various construction phases. The excavation tunnels, which now extend nearly 4 kilometers in total length, have revealed significant findings such as early stelae, plaster facades, and tombs, providing insights into the acropolis's earlier states before its final phase. A conservation plan led by Harvard, in collaboration with the Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia, is currently underway. This plan includes the creation of a digital 3D model of the tunnel system and focuses on preserving the architectural heritage, considering factors like the humid climate, seasonal water table changes, visitor access, and the risk of structural collapse.
- Archaeological excavations at Copan have been ongoing since the 1930s.
- The tunnels measure nearly 4 kilometers and have uncovered important historical artifacts.
- A Harvard-led conservation plan aims to preserve the site while addressing environmental challenges.
- The project includes creating a digital 3D model of the tunnel system.
- Findings from the excavations provide valuable insights into the history of the acropolis.
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- Many commenters express admiration for the use of technology in preserving and presenting historical sites.
- There are inquiries about the technical aspects of the 3D reconstruction, including software and methods used.
- Several users share personal experiences visiting the site, highlighting its impact on them.
- Some comments discuss the broader implications of using such technology for other historical sites and monuments.
- There is a general appreciation for the craftsmanship of ancient civilizations, particularly the Maya.
21 commentsI expect whoever coated the remains with that red cinnabar stuff died rather early, probably with tooth and hair loss and severe mental issues. Perhaps this fate was expected but given that "mad hatters" were a thing until fairly recently, people can be a bit strange when it comes to dealing with poisons.
The guide notes point out that only the most sacred rituals involved this red mercurial stuff. I'm not surprised. It might be rare but rarer still will be people willing to deploy it unless that fate is considered a good way to go.
That tour is a remarkable use of the technology.
Can you share the technical background you've used for creating the 3D reconstruction? Like software packages, or algorithms used.
Are we looking at the result of packages like OpenSfM here, or COLMAP?
This is amazing. Thank you for sharing.
In general we clearly have the technology to capture 4K-8K environments and turn them into very realistic virtual worlds. Is anybody even doing such work? For example capturing a neighborhood in San Francisco (or any city) as it looks in 2024 for historical reference? Seems like that should be a thing.
I've seen high quality environmental scans, even way back in the Silicon Graphics days when they showed an amazing scan of the Sistine Chapel. But it seems to me all such scans wind up in some proprietary player format which was designed by somebody who never played a decent open world game like Fallout 4, Cyberpunk, Battlefield, Red Dead Redemption. I have yet to see a museum environmental scan which gets anywhere near the immersive quality of those games. This is not so much a criticism of such work - it's awsome! - but maybe more of a call to arms for game people to help out the scholars.
Edit: also very nice tool :)!
Did you use the Pro3 as the capture device? Before the collapse anyway!
Is it hard to avoid integrator error in long tunnels?
Did you take any scans after sections collapsed? Would love to hear more about what happened.
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