We have been working closely with heritage reproduction specialists Relicarte on a retail project for the National Museum of Scotland.

The project revolves around the non-contact, high-quality reproduction of several key pieces from the NMS’ collection of Isle of Lewis (or Uig) Chessmen. These reproductions are now available for purchase in the NMS’ shop.

Photograph of the horseman

Render of the horseman

Replica of the horseman

To date, we have produced 4 replica pieces, a king, queen, horseman (pictured) and bishop. A berserker and warder pieces have also been scanned and will be in production shortly.

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In 1798, HMS Colossus, a ship of the line, ran aground on the Isles of Scilly and was lost.

One of the earliest major portions of the ship that was discovered was a carving depicting a male figure in neo-classical dress holding aloft in his left hand what appears to be a laurel wreath. A flag or pennant is carved just to the side of this, directly above a semi-circular window head. This highly decorated window head would have been the stern window of the captain’s lavatory in the port stern gallery.

The figure would originally have been on the upper port side of the stern immediately to the port side of a round-headed window opening. The carving is over 3.30m tall and is carved from several pieces of elm.

HMS Colossus stern figure face close-up

HMS Colossus stern figure face close-up

This figure was raised by Mac Mace and Kevin Camidge and taken to the Mary Rose Trust for conservation.

Recently, in conjunction with on-going recording by Mary Rose Archaeological Services and Kevin Camidge, we have undertaken high-resolution 3D laser scanning of the figure as part of the recording process prior to conservation.

The stern carving is currently undergoing conservation at the Mary Rose Trust in Portsmouth. Once conservation is completed, the carving will be returned to Scilly and displayed with the Valhalla figurehead collection in the Abbey Gardens, Tresco.

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In 2004, we were commissioned by University College Cork (UCC) to undertake high-resolution 3D laser scanning of their unique collection of 28 Ogam stones and 4 carved stones, including a fine rotary quern and a large
cup-and-ring-marked stone.

Working for the University Heritage Office, we completed the 3D laser scanning of all visible portions of the stones in a mere 5 days.

Laser Scanning Ogam stone 4 at UCC

Flashing forward to 2006, the Ogam & carved stones conservation project is well underway and the stones have been removed from UCC for consolidation and cleaning. During this process, we revisited Cork to acquire data from the backs and bases of the stones previously not visible. All the stones are now back on display in a new layout with new interpretation, fibre-optic lighting and multimedia presentation.

Our work now forms a complete 3-dimensional record of the stones for archival purposes. Future interpretation and display uses are planned also.

Images reproduced courtesy of University College Cork.

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We undertook some 3D laser scanning work at Rosslyn Chapel back in 2001. In around 90 minutes of on-site scanning, we recorded 3 areas of sculpture including two window frame decorations featuring two angels and “Robert the Bruce” plus an area of wall featuring the famous “teardrop” carving plus masons marks.

The Trust’s interest in 3D scanning was piqued regarding the ability to accurately record the sculpture in their current condition and also examine the fine masons’ marks in more detail. Our test was undertaken using our old scanning system (sold in 2002). Our current scanning system would produce even higher quality results than those shown below. Given the current interest in all things Rosslyn, we’ve negotiated with the Rosslyn Chapel Trust to release these images.

Higher resolution images are available for download. Please contact us for more details. A fee will be levied which was be donated to the Rosslyn Chapel Trust.

Robert the Bruce from Rosslyn Chapel

Teardrop and masons’ marks from Rosslyn Chapel

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We undertook some survey work for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) in Aberdeenshire. Both projects were commissioned to use 3D laser scanning to extract additional information from heavily weathered Ogham inscriptions and, in the process, we also clarified the interpretation of a Pictish symbol.

The two sites in question were the Pictish cross slab located in Fordoun and the Lang Stane of Auquhollie, near Stonehaven.

The slab at Fordoun features an inscription on the top-left corner and also two putative Ogham inscriptions, one down each side. All three inscriptions were scanned at extremely high resolution to help establish their meaning.

The Lang Stane was also completely scanned with extremely high resolution scanning used on the long Ogham inscription down one arris and on a section of the stone thought to feature two Pictish “double-disc” symbols. After visualisation, it was determined that the two symbols were in fact a single lobed “rectangle” symbol.

Fordoun Pictish Cross Slab

Lang Stane of Auquhollie Pictish symbol

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In conjunction with Dept. of Earth Sciences, Oxford University, we undertook high-resolution 3D laser scanning in collaboration with the Bradgate Trust to form part of an initiative to conserve the evolutionary information of Ediacara biota at highly vulnerable but key sites in Leicestershire, UK.

New 3D reconstructions of the type specimens of Charnia, Charniodiscus, Bradgatia and Ivesheadia raise questions about the currently mooted taxonomy, palaeobiology and ecology of these early Ediacaran fossils.

Charnia P80 Fern Fossil

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We recently undertook an exterior survey of Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran. Two days survey were required to scan the entire structure at a resolution of 1cm allowing us to generate elevation drawings, sections and plans with high accuracy.

Brodick Castle Raw 3D Data

Detail of Brodick Castle Western Elevation

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The Peterhead symbol stone is one of several Neolithic monoliths re-used by the Picts as symbol stones. It stands in a field on what may be cairn material at the north end of Glen Eagles and Glen Devon affording spectacular views down the glens. The stone is around 6 feet high and is roughly cylindrical in shape.

Peterhead Symbol Stone and Glendevon

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The Bewcastle Cross is an outstanding late 7th/early 8th century Anglo-Saxon cross standing 14 feet high. The cross head is missing, but the shaft is in a fairly good state of preservation and is inscribed with 6 runic panels.

St. Cuthbert’s Church and the Bewcastle Cross

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The Ballochmyle Walls are two large sandstone sheets which are literally covered with hundreds of Neolithic cup-and-ring markings and other designs and motifs. The walls were rediscovered in the late 1980s when the vegetation around them was cleared. This has perhaps had the unfortunate side-effect of accelerating weathering and vandalism of the surfaces.

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