On 15 May, the Chongqing Zhongxian Huanghuacheng Archaeological Site Exhibition Centre—the first archaeological site museum in the Three Gorges region—officially opened to the public. Built on the remains of a Song–Yuan dynasty ancient city, the site integrates in-situ archaeology with modern museum exhibition design.

Among the highlights is a series of ancient ceramic artifacts restored using 3D transparent restoration technology, supported by high-precision 3D scanning from 3DeVOK, in collaboration with Jingdezhen Xingshi Restoration Technology Co., Ltd.

3D Transparent Restoration Workflow

Transparent restoration combines 3D scanning, digital reconstruction, and transparent 3D printing to digitally reconstruct fragmented ceramics while keeping every restoration intervention clearly identifiable.

Using the 3DeVOK MT handheld 3D scanner, conservators digitized fragile ceramic fragments through a fully non-contact, marker-free workflow. With a resolution of up to 0.01 mm, the scanner accurately captured delicate surface features, including glaze crackles, chipped edges, and centuries of natural wear, creating high-quality digital data for subsequent restoration.

The resulting 3D models enabled restorers to perform virtual reconstruction in a digital environment, where multiple restoration hypotheses could be tested, compared, and refined before any physical restoration work began. This digital workflow significantly improves restoration accuracy while reducing reliance on manual interpretation.

From Zhejiang Provincial Museum to the Three Gorges

This methodology was previously demonstrated at the Zhejiang Provincial Museum exhibition Restoration & Decoration – The Art of Ceramic Repair and Ornamentation, where multiple transparent restoration works were presented to the public.

A representative case involved a Yuan dynasty Longquan kiln phoenix-tail vase with a completely missing lower section. More than ten reconstruction scenarios were developed based on archaeological references and expert validation, resulting in a structurally and historically consistent restoration model.

Expanding Digital Heritage Applications

Beyond museum exhibitions, 3DeVOK 3D scanning technology has been applied in multiple cultural heritage projects, including:

1. Sanxingdui Bronze Sacred Tree digital reconstruction
2. Sino–Egyptian archaeological cooperation projects
3. Yungang Grottoes digital preservation
4. Longmen Grottoes 3D documentation
5. Lufeng dinosaur fossil archaeology project

These applications demonstrate how 3D scanning is becoming a core tool in modern cultural heritage preservation and digital archiving.

Preserving the Past with 3DeVOK 3D Scanning

The transparent ceramic restoration project at the Huanghuacheng Archaeological Site Exhibition Centre demonstrates how 3D scanning, digital reconstruction, and transparent 3D printing are transforming archaeological conservation.

By combining 3DeVOK MT's high-resolution 3D scanning with digital restoration workflows, conservators can document fragile artifacts with exceptional precision while making every restoration step scientifically traceable and visually understandable.

As digital technologies continue to reshape cultural heritage preservation, 3DeVOK remains committed to supporting museums, archaeologists, and conservation professionals with high-precision, non-contact 3D scanning solutions that help preserve, study, and share history for future generations.