Geometrías Arqueológicas: Digitalización 3D de piezas patrimoniales como estrategia para su conservación y difusión.

Abstract

Colombian archaeological heritage faces a permanent tension between the need to guarantee its physical preservation and the imperative to promote its access and use within outreach, educational, and research contexts. The handling and exhibition restrictions required by many archaeological assets often impose barriers that distance society from its own legacy. Addressing this challenge, the project "Geometrías Arqueológicas" (Archaeological Geometries) explores 3D digitalization not merely as a technical resource, but as a strategic bridge to transform the custody of the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH) into shared knowledge. Adopting an applied research approach, this study integrated the photogrammetric recording of five key pieces with their implementation in real-world scenarios. The process moved beyond digital archiving to materialize into tangible tools: models published on web platforms, interactive postcards featuring QR codes, and 3D-printed replicas designed for public mediation workshops. The results confirm that three-dimensional virtualization bolsters preventive conservation while fundamentally democratizing access to heritage. By allowing for safe, detailed interaction (both on screens and in the hands of the public) these technologies consolidate as essential pathways for research, education, and the social circulation of archaeological knowledge.