3D scanning of Vindolanda’s collection: successes and challenges

The idea of being able to research and handle an archaeological find from anywhere in the world, without removing it from its museum case, seemed futuristic to most only ten years ago. Technological advancement, and cooperation between sites and museums – who hold the finds – and research
institutions – who hold the technical equipment and ‘know-how’ – have made the 3D scanning of collections a reality on Hadrian’s Wall. This chapter talks about the 3D scanning of some of Vindolanda’s collections. The authors use this process as a gateway to explore some important questions: where should digital artefacts be displayed? Who is responsible for the care of online collections? What happens when digital artefacts are manipulated by digital users, who may not be archaeologists or researchers? Who do these scanned artefacts, original or modified, end up belonging to? And finally, is there any risk that digital artefacts will come to replace their analogue counterparts?