Documentation of the WORLD SCAN PROJECT, a 3D scan of archaeological sites in Egypt in 2018

In 2018, we at WORLD SCAN PROJECT set foot in Egypt, one of the most mysterious places in human history, and succeeded in scanning many archaeological sites in 3D and preserving them as a digital archive. Here we would like to share with you some of our research.

Connecting Ancient Ruins to the Next Generation through 3D Scanning

is involved in the 3D scanning of archaeological sites because our technology can make a significant contribution to the preservation and study of archaeological sites.

3D scanned archaeological sites can be preserved as detailed digital data and remain forever as they are today, without being weathered away. The data will remain a valuable record of human history and a guide to new research and discovery.

Take a trip through time in 2018

In 2018, our project involved 3D scanning of some of the world's most remarkable archaeological sites in Egypt.

These stunning structures built thousands of years ago, tell us many stories that transcend time and space. Let us introduce you to some of these amazing monuments along with the scans.

Dedicated to Hathor, the goddess of beauty and love - Temple of Dendera

The Temple of Hathor at Dendera, located about 60 km north of Luxor, is a magnificent temple built in the Ptolemaic period of Egyptian antiquity as a testament of dedication to Hathor, the goddess of beauty and love.

Cleopatra is said to have visited and loved its beauty, and on the walls of the temple, you can find images of her and her beloved son, Caesarion. It is also considered one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt.

Very beautiful murals remain.

Inside the temple, the columned chambers are beautifully decorated with bright colors and murals, and reliefs called the "Zodiacal Belt of Dendera" depicting ancient constellations with the North Star at the center.

Replica of the "Dendera zodiac"
The real one was taken to France during Napoleon's expedition.

CTO Ichikawa scanning the "Dendera zodiac".

The mysterious relief "The Dendera light," which is famous for being occasionally featured as an ornament, is located in the underground space of the temple and is not a light bulb but a scene from the ancient Egyptian creation myth.

Relief of lotus flower

Scanning work is delicate and hard work

Buried in the sand for hundreds of years ~ Temple of Horus in Edfu

The Temple of Horus at Edfu was built during the Ptolemaic period as a temple to the falcon god Horus. The temple, which now reveals a magnificent tower gate, was once buried in sand and forgotten for centuries until French scholars unearthed it and brought it back to light.

Stunning pagoda gate that is hard to believe it has been buried in sand for centuries.

Today, it is a popular staple for tourists on Nile River cruises, and a stunning statue of the god Horus in the form of a falcon sits inside the temple.

God Horus in the form of a falcon is a photo spot for tourists.

The temple's murals also detail the famous Egyptian myth of the struggle between Horus and Set for kingship, telling the story of the gods to the viewer.

Relief describing the struggle between the gods Horus and Set.

The most sacred place in the temple, the Most Holy Place

3D scanning is also a battle against Egypt's heat

Treasures of Egypt - Great Pyramid of Giza

Among the sites investigated by the WORLD SCAN PROJECT, the most notable is the Great Pyramid of Giza. Built-in the 2500s B.C., the pyramid soars high into the sky as the royal tomb of the ancient Egyptian king Khufu. The precision of its construction is astounding, and it is still celebrated as a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian technology and building techniques.

Drones are essential to scan the entire massive archaeological site.

The Great Pyramid was also a symbol of ancient Egyptian society, politics, and religion. Its massive scale and construction process remain a mystery even today.

The "Great Gallery," a representative space of the Great Pyramid

The recent discovery of an unknown space for the first time in 186 years made headlines, and discoveries are expected from the WORLD SCAN PROJECT's survey data in the future.

A new space was discovered behind this gabled structure.

Expanding Use of 3D Scanning Data

The 3D scan data obtained from the Egypt survey has been utilized in various fields: from July to November 2023, the WORLD SCAN PROJECT's actual scans of Egypt were used for the exhibits and images in the "Experiential Ancient Egypt Exhibition: The Youth of Tutankhamun" held at the Kadokawa Musashino Museum. The data scanned in Egypt by the WORLD SCAN PROJECT was used for the exhibits and videos.

All videos directed or edited by CTO Ichikawa

Experience the actual Giza land in real time with 3D data-based images.

WORLD SCAN PROJECT also 3D scans King Tutankhamun's mask

King Tutankhamun's burial chamber reproduced based on 3D data from the WORLD SCAN PROJECT.

The WORLD SCAN PROJECT's involvement in this exhibit will be covered in detail in another article.

July 01, 2023 [Sat] - November 20, 2023 [Mon]
Hands-on Ancient Egypt Exhibition: The Youth of Tutankhamun

The exhibition will present the true face of the ancient Egyptian civilization and Tutankhamun through an immersive visual experience using "super-replicas" and high-definition digital data scanned from the "real thing"!

Supervisor: Dr.Yukinori Kawae (Egyptian Archaeologist / Associate Professor, School of Advanced Studies, Nagoya University)
Digital Artist: Mr. Yasumasa Ichikawa (CTO, WORLD SCAN PROJECT)

In this way, even those who have difficulty visiting the site will be able to experience the charms of Egypt through digital data. This is a new form of cultural heritage awareness and tourism experience.

Bringing the world, the future, and curiosity closer to you

The WORLD SCAN PROJECT will continue to survey and preserve archaeological sites around the world to connect the treasures of humanity to the future and to "bring the world, the future, and curiosity closer together".

Please watch some videos about our research in Egypt and our 3D technology.