Dr. Robert Cargill, professor of classics and religious studies at the University of Iowa, delivered a talk about the uses of 3-D digital modeling in archaeological research. He was quick to point out that in 2013, all humanities research is, essentially, digital humanities research. “It’s like saying digital photography – all photography is digital now,” said Cargill.
The biblical expert discussed his work this summer at Tel Azekah, Israel, including the excavation of a perfectly preserved massive Bronze Age cistern. Although archaeological data was previously the exclusive domain of experts, Cargill said that digital modeling can increase understanding, as well as access to dig sites, for students and the general public. “You can experience the site in the same way as those who lived there,” Cargill said of the sensation of walking through a digital 3-D model of an ancient city.