From Furtwängler to Photogrammetry: A Standardized 3D Workflow for Greek Pottery

This article presents a comprehensive framework for the three-dimensional documentation and scholarly study of Greek pottery, integrating high resolution photogrammetry, 3D-modelling, and immersive visual environments. Central to the methodology is the creation of accurate and reproducible 3D models derived from calibrated high-resolution photographic data. The presented workflow supports the simulation of material appearance through physically based rendering techniques, enabling the visual differentiation of surfaces such as glossy slips and matte clay fabrics. From the resulting models, analytical outputs including photorealistic renderings, digital cross sections and rollouts of the decoration are generated in accordance with established documentation conventions in pottery studies. All components of the documentation process are preserved in curated in standardized datasets. These are accompanied by structured metadata, paradata, and contextual information and are made available through research data repository Bonndata at the University of Bonn to ensure long term accessibility, and reproducibility. The article further explores the pedagogical application of these digital surrogates in virtual reality teaching environments designed to support object centered and context informed learning. Students are able to examine and compare archaeological objects at life scale and in simulated contexts, facilitating deeper engagement with typology, function, and stylistic variation. The article concludes by highlighting the importance of integrating digital documentation and visualization techniques into archaeological training curricula as a necessary step toward a sustainable and methodologically robust future for the study of Greek pottery.