| ■Tokyo National Research
Institute for Cultural Properties |
■Center for Conservation
Science |
| ■Department of Art Research,
Archives and Information Systems |
■Japan Center for
International Cooperation in Conservation |
| ■Department of Intangible
Cultural Heritage |
|
The Japan Centre for International Cooperation in Conservation and Heritage Commission of Saudi Arabia co-organised a workshop for 3D digital documentation at the National Museum of Saudi Arabia from 2nd to 4th November, 2025. As the application of 3D documentation in the field of cultural heritage has been drawing attention in Saudi Arabia in recent years, our workshop series of 3D documentation was organised for the first time in Saudi Arabia, with the theme of “3D Digital documentation of archaeological objects,” receiving 25 experts as participants who are working in fields such as archaeological excavation and museum management.
During the workshop, lectures were held by lecturers despatched from Japan regarding the basic methods of 3D photogrammetry, and various 3D documentation techniques depending on the object size or occasion of the documentation. In addition to the lectures, participants were divided into five groups and practiced the 3D photogrammetry of sample objects and documentation with a Lidar smartphone application and 3D laser scanning.
On 4th November, an open event titled “XR meet up in Riyadh” was held in the National Museum of Saudi Arabia. Various examples and activities from Japan related to 3D digital documentation were exhibited in the event, as follows: ‘VR experience of Copan in Honduras’ by Komatsu University; ‘XR Heijo-kyo’ by the Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, ‘3D DB Viewer project’ by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties; ‘Kyoto VR’ by Holo Lab Inc.; Scaniverse by Niantic Inc.; and VR experience of Aali royal burial mound in Bahrain and Tanei Temple in Cambodia. The event provided opportunities to experience various utilisations of 3D documentation of cultural heritage widely to the public.
This workshop was organized as a part of the project for Exchanges in International Cooperation for Conservation of Cultural Heritage funded by the Agency of Cultural Affairs.
Professor Emeritus SASAKI Tatsuo giving a lecture
On Saturday, November 8, 2025, the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) welcomed Professor Emeritus SASAKI Tatsuo of Kanazawa University as a guest speaker for a lecture titled “Excavating the Archaeological Sites of the Persian Gulf Region.” This event was organized as the seventh session of the “Pioneer Seminars in West Asian Archaeology,” a lecture series launched in 2018 by the Japanese Society for West Asian Archaeology to highlight first-generation researchers who opened new paths in archaeological studies across West Asia and its surrounding regions. Co-hosted with the Society, the seminar was held in a hybrid format—both in-person at the Institute’s seminar room and online—and brought together a total of 90 attendees.
Professor SASAKI, a specialist in the history of inter-civilizational exchange, has focused his scholarly work on the distribution of ceramics while participating in numerous excavations conducted in Japan, and also overseas in Iraq, Egypt, the Indian Ocean, the Persian Gulf, and various desert regions. Despite the often unstable political and security conditions in these areas, he continued his fieldwork, deepened his collaborations with local researchers, and dedicated himself not only to excavation but also to the conservation of archaeological sites.
Drawing from his extensive experience—encountering different research environments and approaches to heritage preservation across countries—Professor SASAKI’s lecture offered valuable insights. It resonated not only with active field researchers, but also with those who have long been inspired by the archaeological and historical world of West Asia, as well as younger generations preparing to enter the field.
Today, at least fiveJapanese-led archaeological missions are operating in the Gulf region. The latest research results, carried forward by the new generation that has inherited the pioneers’ spirit, will be presented in detail at the 33rd Annual Meeting of Excavation in West Asia scheduled for March 21–22, 2026, to be held in the same venue.
Symposium in Tokyo
Symposium in Kyoto
Study Tour: Visiting the Byōdō-in Temple
Due to conflict and prolonged instability, archaeological research and international assistance had been suspended in Iraq for a period of time. In recent years, however, foreign archaeological missions have gradually been returning, and international research on the history of ancient West Asian civilizations, as well as activities for the protection of cultural heritage, have resumed. The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) has continuously provided support to Iraq, including training programs in Japan and the provision of equipment for conservation and restoration specialists of the Iraq National Museum between fiscal years 2004 and 2010, and the organization of two symposia in 2019 and 2022. At present, one of the key challenges in Iraq is to raise awareness among local communities to ensure the sustainability of cultural heritage protection.
In response to this situation, TOBUNKEN, in cooperation with the Japanese-Iraqi Institute for Archaeological Education of Mesopotamia and the Research Center for Japanese Garden and Historical Heritage at Kyoto University of the Arts, invited three specialists from Dhi Qar Governorate in southern Iraq from November 22 to December 1, 2025 to participate in two symposia held in Japan with the core theme of “Local Communities and Cultural Heritage” and a study tour organized to introduce new ideas and approaches through Japanese examples of site management and the utilization of cultural heritage, and to apply these insights to address challenges in Iraq.
At each symposium, the Iraqi specialists presented the current state of archaeological excavations and site management in Dhi Qar Governorate. They also reported on outreach activities related to ancient Mesopotamian civilization and archaeology, events designed to connect museum collections with local communities, and the results of surveys on perceptions of cultural heritage within higher education.
From the Japanese side, at a Tokyo venue, lectures were delivered by Mr. NAKAO Tomoyuki of the Agency for Cultural Affairs and Mr. MIYOSHI Seicho of Hida City on the current status of Japan’s cultural property protection policies and initiatives undertaken by local governments. At a Kyoto venue, a keynote lecture on the site management of Byōdō-in Temple and its collaboration with local communities was given by Prof. NAKA Takahiro of Kyoto University of the Arts. In addition, Mr. YAMADA Takafumi of the World Heritage Office of Nara Prefecture spoke on guidance for municipal officials responsible for World Heritage sites and collaboration with school education, while Prof. USAMI Tomoyuki of Kyoto University of the Arts introduced student- and citizen-participatory support activities, including a web-based GIS mapping of cultural heritage in Iraq. Through these presentations, the characteristics and challenges of public outreach activities in both countries were shared, and active discussions were held on effective strategies for increasing opportunities for citizens to engage with cultural heritage.
During the invitation period, the Iraqi specialists also visited archaeological sites and museums in Tokyo and Kyoto between the two symposia. They were able to bring valuable information relevant to addressing challenges back to Iraq, including the advantages of site museums; methods of site presentation, such as the indication of remains through reconstructed buildings and plantings, and in situ preservation using protective shelters; as well as interpretive approaches employing VR and AR technologies and multilingual video materials.
We hope that the methods and knowledge gained in Japan will contribute to the future advancement of cultural heritage protection in southern Iraq, and we will continue to strengthen our cooperative efforts going forward.
UAV surveying on Filaka Island
Participants working on 3D model creation
The Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation held a workshop, titled, “Workshop on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Surveying of Archaeological Sites” in Kuwait on October 10-17, 2025, as a part of the Activities for Exchanges in International Cooperation for Conservation of Cultural Heritage sponsored by the Agency of Cultural affairs. This workshop built upon previous workshops conducted in Bahrain and Japan, focusing specifically on large-scale surveying of archaeological sites such as cities and fortresses.
This training program was conducted in collaboration with the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL), Department of Antiquities and Museums, and Kuwait University. A total of 15 experts from the institutions and the Kuwait National Museum participated. Participants received lectures on UAV, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), and 3D digital documentation techniques, and then worked on creating 3D models of archaeological sites using sample data. Additionally, on Failaka Island in eastern Kuwait, all participants conducted UAV surveys of archaeological sites of the Hellenistic period. Using the captured data, they created 3D models and learned how to utilize the data for studies and how to perform large-scale surveys of archaeological sites.
Not only Kuwait, but other Gulf countries possess numerous cultural heritage sites. However, there is concern over a shortage of personnel to document and preserve this cultural heritage. It is hoped that learning such efficient methods will help resolve some of these challenges.
Practice of 3D photogrammetry at the burial mounds in Janabiyah
The Japan Centre for International Cooperation in Conservation of Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) and Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) co-organized a workshop for 3D digital documentation at Bahrain National Museum from 28th to 30th October, 2015. This series of workshops was started from a request from BACA, which has been promoting the introduction of 3D digital documentation techniques to the field of conservation of cultural heritage. As previous workshops had been held in Bahrain and Japan, this time the workshop focused on the ‘3D documentation of built heritage’ for intermediate-level practitioners, welcoming 13 experts of cultural heritage, 11 from Bahrain and 2 from UAE.
On the first day of workshop, lectures were held regarding the documentation methods and utilisation examples of 3D digital documentation for built heritage. After the lectures, the participants tried to document a building by themselves using 3D photogrammetry and Lidar on smartphones at the Fakhro House in the World heritage site, the ‘Pearling path.’ On the second day, participants practiced the documentation with 3D laser scanning in the exhibition room of Bahrain National Museum in the morning, and documentation with 3D photogrammetry and RTK-GNSS of the burial mounds in Janabiyah in the afternoon. The third day’s topic was 3D data utilization. The participants learned methods to create contents for an online digital museum utilising the 3D data of the exhibition room of museum that they had documented by themselves on the previous day. They also learned to create 3D models of the burial mounds in Janabiyah with photogrammetry, and published the models on the digital twin platform ‘3D DB viewer,’ which was co-developed by The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties.
The participants showed high motivation in applying these technologies in their daily practice in their respective fields of expertise such as archaeology and architecture, and expressed a willingness to learn further advanced methods. We would like to continue organising these opportunities for knowledge sharing in response to their needs.
This workshop was organized as a part of the project for Exchanges in International Cooperation for Conservation of Cultural Heritage funded by the Agency of Cultural affairs.
His Excellency Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa at the event
Lecturers of the symposium
The Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025 started in April, and the Kingdom of Bahrain is hosting a pavilion at the Expo. His Excellency Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), who is in charge of the pavilion, came to Japan to attend the opening ceremony of the expo.
The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) has been undertaking various projects aiming to preserve the cultural heritage in Bahrain for many years. Following a request by H. E. Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, the institute held the symposium and experience event, “The History and Culture in Bahrain” jointly with BACA on April 20th in 2025.
Japanese and Bahraini archaeologists and Marikofun, Kofun performer, delivered lectures and participants also enjoyed presentations on the history and culture of Bahrain through various XR contents such as VR experience of Bahraini archaeological sites using VR goggles.
Research at the Tubli cemetery
Tombstones in Al-Qadem cemetery preserved by the local community
The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties has been cooperating on excavation surveys and maintenance of historical sites in the tombs of Bahrain for many years. Although historical Islamic tombstones remain in mosques and cemeteries throughout the country, and about 150 tombstones can still be found in the country today, many are deteriorating due to salt damage.
In response to Bahrain’s request for help in protecting those tombstones, in 2023 and 2024, we conducted photogrammetric surveying using SfM-MVS (Structure-from-Motion/Multi-View-Stereo), a technology for creating 3D models from photographs. So far, we have completed 3D measurements of approximately 100 tombstones located in museums and modern cemeteries. The models created were published on Sketchfab, a platform widely accessible both domestically and internationally, and are being used as a database of tombstones.
A 3D measurement survey was conducted from February 8 to 12, 2025, covering cemeteries in the southern part of the country. Photogrammetric surveying was conducted and measurements were completed as in the past, this time for a total of 29 cemeteries: 2 in Tubri, 1 in Salamya Mosque, 12 in Hoora, 1 in Mahooz, 1 in Daih, 5 in Noaim, 2 in Al-Qadem, and 5 in Karranah. With the exception of buried and destroyed tombstones, this survey completed the measurement of all the tombstones in Bahrain.
This is the first database of 3D models of more than 100 tombstones with information on the dimensions, shape, and inscriptions of each individual monument, and it is highly expected that the results of this survey will be useful for future research on Islamic tombstones, in addition to preserving a record of their shapes.
Investigation of flood damage in Barbar temple
Symposium on Al Faw Archaeological Area
The Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation sent a research team to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to take part in investigation and discussion of the preservation of cultural heritage in early October.
A tripartite memorandum of agreement had been signed among the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, and the Institute for the Study of Ancient Civilizations and Cultural Resources at Kanazawa University. Together they launched a research center to promote archaeological studies in Bahrain and cultural heritage preservation projects in collaboration. The purpose of this visit was to investigate the current preservation conditions of cultural heritage that had been damaged by heavy rain in the beginning of this year. In Qalat al Bahrain, collapse of the outer walls of the fort by water damage and serious bending of the ceiling beams made from palm trees were recognized, and the site was temporarily closed to the public. Additionally, soil erosion was recognized in a well thought to be the most sacred part of the Barbar temple, and several stones were inclined or moved by the water flow. Effects on the cultural heritage due to increasing annual precipitation is becoming more serious year by year across the Middle East. We proposed to periodically monitor the progression of deterioration in comparison with the past situation, and discussed immediate countermeasures to reduce flood damage.
We attended a symposium held in Riyadh that focused on the Al Faw Archaeological Area in Saudi Arabia, which had just been newly inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in September 2024, and then visited the archaeological site. Excavation has been completed only by a few percentages, as the Al Faw Archaeological site is large and complex, mainly composed of a pre-Islamic caravan city, and also includes an area of ritual practice and numerous mound tombs from the Bronze Age. We also had a meeting with the Heritage Committee of the government of Saudi Arabia, and agreed to continue discussions on a partnership to promote site management and research for a future public opening of the Al-Faw Archaeological Area.
Training in Photogrammetry
Peace Park Tour VR in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Experiencing AR content at the Ichijodani Asakura Family Site Museum
The Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation held a workshop and study tour, titled, “Workshop on 3D Digital Documentation of the Cultural Heritage and Its Application” and “Study Tour on the Utilization of AR, VR, and Digital Contents in Japanese Museums and Archaeological Sites,” in Japan on October 21-30, 2024 as a part of the Activities for Exchanges in International Cooperation for Conservation of Cultural Heritage sponsored by the Agency of Cultural affairs. This is an advanced program following a basic technical workshop held in Bahrain in December 2023. Seven researchers who were invited from five different counties, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Egypt, attended an advanced technical lecture and hands-on program, and received on-site training in flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for wide-area surveys of archaeological sites and historical buildings. Furthermore, a study tour to find examples of usage of 3D digital documentation in Japan was conducted.
The aim of holding this invitational program in Japan is to provide opportunities to learn about various usage and applications in the areas of historical education, museum exhibitions, and open-site museums in addition to implementing 3D digital documentation in the fields of archaeology or historical buildings. The following examples were introduced: digital content, such as a digital chronicle of the Japanese fine arts produced by the Tokyo National Museum and National Center for the Promotion of Cultural Properties; a 3DDB Model Viewer, which is a twin digital project sponsored by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology; and the “Museum of the Street,” which is a unique program to provide touchable exhibitions reproduced from 3D digital data of real museum objects. Moreover, we visited and experienced the “Peace Park Tour VR” at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park; Otsuka Ohmi Ceramic Co., Ltd., a factory producing replicas of cultural properties; and augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) contents merged with an on-site exhibition of archaeological remains and reconstructed streetscape in the Ichijodani Asakura Family Site Museum.
Since it was seen that each country has different main objectives to implement 3D digital documentation, more practical cooperation programs to respond to each need will be considered in the future.
Research at the Abu Anbara Cemetery
Reused tombstones in Abu Anbara Cemetery
The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties has been cooperating with an excavation survey and the maintenance of historical sites in the tombs of Bahrain for many years. When we visited the site in July 2022 and met Salman Al Mahari, Director of the Bahrain National Museum, he asked us to help protect the historical Islamic tombstones that remained in the mosques and cemeteries. Currently, approximately 150 historical Islamic tombstones remain in the country, but they are deteriorating due to salt damage and other factors.
As cooperative activities in response to this request, in 2023 we conducted photogrammetric surveying using SfM-MVS (Structure-from-Motion/Multi-View-Stereo), a technology for creating 3D models from photographs, and completed 3D measurements of 20 tombstones in the collection of the Bahrain National Museum and 27 in the collections of the Al-Khamis Mosque. The models created were published on Sketchfab, a platform widely accessible both domestically and internationally, and are being used as a database of the tombstones.
From February 9 to 15, 2024, we again conducted a 3D survey of other cemeteries in Bahrain. Photogrammetric surveying was completed for 47 tombstones in Abu Anbara Cemetery, 2 in Al Maqsha Cemetery, 11 in Jebelat Habshi Cemetery, and 3 in Jidhafs Al-Imam Cemetery. Unlike in previous years, these tombstones were located within Muslim cemeteries, and some were reused in modern tombs.
A database of more than 100 tombstones with 3D models combining information on their dimensions, shapes, and inscriptions is unprecedented, and in addition to preserving records of tombstones, the results of this research are expected to be useful in the study of Islamic tombstones.
Trainees learning photogrammetry and 3D modelling
Trainees learning photogrammetry and 3D modelling
The Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation held a workshop for four days, from December 24 to 27, 2023, which focused on technology transfer of the 3D digital documentation for cultural heritage and case studies, and discussion on its subsequent application for professional staff involved with cultural heritage in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities has been promoting the introduction of 3D digital documentation as one of the solutions to improve issues regarding documentation, preservation, and utilization of cultural heritage. As a training program for these issues was requested, this workshop was conducted as Activities for Exchanges in International Cooperation for Conservation of Cultural Heritage in fiscal year 2023, granted by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
Fifteen trainees from different specialties, including museology, conservation science, conservation and restoration, archaeology, and architecture, attended the workshop. Two of them participated from the neighboring Gulf countries of UAE and Kuwait. Together with lectures on various ways to create 3D digital documentation, trainees tackled the practical task of making a 3D model from the beginning, solely by themselves, applying photogrammetry to one exhibit object selected from the museum. By experiencing trial and error on their own, trainees acquired the skills and knowledge to create the 3D model and consider their subsequent use. At the discussion on the last day, the ideas of each trainee as to how to make the best use of 3D digital data and models were actively discussed, such as for improving satisfaction with the descriptions of museum exhibits, and utilization in recording of the conservation process for application to the digital museum or for domestic and international promotion.
Despite the rich cultural heritage preserved not only in Bahrain but in other Gulf countries, the lack of human capacity to preserve and utilize cultural heritage is concerning, but it is hoped that some of these issues will improve through learning ways to perform documentation efficiently using 3D digital techniques.
A historic building damaged, collapsed, and temporarily closed. (Hatay)
Restoration of the collapsed walls is underway at Gaziantep Castle.
Experts' seminar
The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) participated in the Emergency International Contribution Project for Cultural Heritage in FY2023 commissioned by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, which was titled as “Project for supporting the Reconstruction of Damaged Cultural Heritage in Türkiye,” in cooperation with the Cultural Heritage Disaster Risk Management Center, Japan (CHDRMC).
The primary objective of this project was to provide relief support for museums and cultural heritage damaged in the 2023 Türkiye–Syria earthquakes that occurred on February 6, 2023. In addition, by sharing Japan’s experience in rescuing damaged cultural heritage and our accumulated knowledge of cultural heritage disaster prevention with Türkiye, the project also aims to support the establishment and enhancement of a cultural heritage disaster prevention system in Türkiye.
From November 28 to December 7, 2023, a joint team of TOBUNKEN and CHDRMC visited Türkiye to investigate the affected areas, exchange information on cultural heritage disaster prevention in both countries, and exchange opinions with their Turkish counterparts for future collaboration.
The team visited museums and cultural heritage sites in Hatay, Gaziantep, and Şanlıurfa to ask museum staff about the response to the disaster, the current situation, and other issues, and to survey future support needs. At present, emergency measures are almost completed at the damaged museums, and full-scale work for recovery of the damaged collections and buildings is expected to be carried out in the near future. The museum in Şanlıurfa was flooded by heavy rains in early March, one month after the earthquake.
The experts’ meeting was held at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Republic of Türkiye, jointly with the Ministry. The Japanese side provided an overview of cultural property disaster prevention systems in Japan, and reported on activities to rescue cultural properties damaged in the Great East Japan Earthquake and other recent disasters, as well as disaster prevention measurements at museums. The Turkish side reported on the damage to cultural properties caused by the earthquake, presented an overview of the response, and discussed disaster risk mitigation methods at museums. The parties from the two countries are continuing with further discussion regarding the direction of specific mutual collaboration and promotion of joint research on cultural property disaster prevention.
The workshop
3D documentation using Agisoft Metashape and iPhone Scaniverse has been rapidly introduced recently. The introduction of this technology can not only reduce the working time, but also make it possible to document cultural heritage with very high precision.
Following a beginner course held in July, the Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation arranged an intermediate/advanced course on 3D digital documentation for experts who are working abroad, held on November 26 2023. Dr. NOGUCHI Atsushi from Komatsu University was invited as the lecturer. The main aim of this workshop was for the Japanese experts to learn 3D documentation and then to spread their knowledge among foreign experts.
In total, 18 specialists with a variety of backgrounds such as archaeology, conservation science, and conservation architecture joined this workshop and studied how to make orthographic projections, cross-sections, contour maps, and tiered color maps from 3D models using Cloud Compare.
Visit to Ichijodani Archaeological Site, Fukui Prefecture
The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties has been involved with cooperative projects to preserve the cultural heritage in Bahrain for many years. Recently, Dr. Salman Almahari, Director of Antiquities and Museums in Bahrain, and colleagues requested to study the utilization of AR, VR, and digital contents in Japanese museums and archaeological sites, because they plan to introduce them in Bahraini museums and historical sites. Therefore, Dr. Salman Almahari and Dr. Melanie Muenzner, who is in charge of the UNESCO World Heritage Inscription in Bahrain, were invited to Japan from October 10 to 15, 2023 and a study tour was arranged.
During their stay in Japan, Japanese specialists delivered lectures on several topics, including basics of 3D documentation of cultural heritage, the utilization of AR for tourism promotion in Japan, among others. The Bahraini specialists also visited the Tokyo National Museum, Ichijodani Archaeological Site, Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, NHK and NHK Enterprises to study the latest examples of AR, VR, and digital contents such as ultra-high definition 3DCG.
The study tour was funded by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan. As a part of the same project, we also plan to organize a workshop, “3D Digital Documentation of Cultural Heritage and Its Applications,” for Bahraini experts to take place in December 2023.
Participants taking pictures for 3D digital documentation
The３D documentation using Agisoft Metashape and iPhone Scaniverse has recently been introduced, and is rapidly coming into use. The introduction of this technology can not only reduce working time, but also makes it possible to document cultural heritage with very high precision.
The Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation arranged a three-day workshop on 3D digital documentation for experts who are working abroad from July 15 to 17, 2023. Dr. NOGUCHI Atsushi from Komatsu University was invited as the lecturer. The main aim of this workshop was to spread 3D documentation techniques among the foreign experts through the Japanese experts who attended the workshop.
Twenty-five specialists with a variety of backgrounds in areas such as archaeology, conservation science, and conservation architecture joined this workshop and studied how to make 3D models using Agisoft Metashape and iPhone Scaniverse.
Research at the Bahrain National Museum
The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties has been cooperating with the excavation survey and maintenance of historical sites in the tombs of Bahrain for many years. When we visited the site in July 2022 and met Salman Al Mahari, Director of the Bahrain National Museum, he asked us to help protect the historical Islamic tombstones that remained in the mosques and cemeteries. Currently, approximately 150 historical Islamic tombstones remain in the country, but they are deteriorating due to salt damage and other factors.
In response to this request, as the first step of new cooperative activities, 3D measurements were taken of tombstones in the Bahrain National Museum’ collection and Al-Khamis Mosque from February 11 to 16, 2023. Structure-from-Motion/Multi-View-Stereo (SfM-MVS), a technology that creates 3D models from photographs, was used for photogrammetry to complete measurements of 20 units in the Bahrain National Museum and 27 units in the Al-Khamis Mosque’s collections. Tombstones made of limestone are highly compatible with photogrammetry, and from the 3D models created, the inscriptions on the tombstones can be seen much more clearly than from photographs or with the naked eye. These models will be made publicly available on a platform that can be accessed widely both domestically and internationally and will be used as a database for tombstones in the future.
In the following fiscal year and beyond, we plan to further expand the scope of our 3D measurement work to other cemeteries in Bahrain.
Dilmun Burial Mounds remaining in Bahrain
Speakers and participants of the symposium held in Tokyo, Japan.
The Kingdom of Bahrain in the Middle East has many interesting cultural heritage sites, despite being a small island country of the size of Tokyo’s 23 wards and Kawasaki City combined. It is known that Bahrain was called Dilmun, and prospered by monopolizing the maritime trade connecting Mesopotamia with the Indus region, approximately 4,000 years ago. As many as 75,000 burial mounds were built during that period only in Bahrain, which have attracted the attention of many researchers since the end of the 19th century. The Dilmun Burial Mounds were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2019.
The Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) has been cooperating on the site management and excavations of the Dilmun Burial Mounds for a long time. From FY2022, we began cooperating on the conservation of historic Islamic gravestones in Bahrain.
The year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bahrain and Japan. TOBUNKEN held the international symposia on Archaeology and International Contribution: Japanese Cooperation for the Protection of the Cultural Heritage in Bahrain (on December 11th, 2022 at TOBUNKEN) and the Latest Discoveries of Arabian Archaeology (on December 14th, 2022, at Kanazawa University), co-sponsored by the Institute for the Study of Ancient Civilizations and Cultural Resources of Kanazawa University. The Director of Archaeology and Museums of Bahrain, heads of Denmark, France, and British missions that conduct excavations in Bahrain, and archaeology and conservation science experts in Japan, gathered for the symposia.
The history of each country’s excavations in Bahrain and the excavation, conservation, and restoration activities of Japanese experts were introduced at the symposium in Tokyo. The latest excavation survey results for each mission were introduced at the symposium in Kanazawa.
TOBUNKEN plans to continue cooperating for the protection of cultural heritage in Bahrain in various ways.
Gravestones of the early Islamic period in Abu Anbra Graveyard
We, the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (TOBUNKEN) visited the Kingdom of Bahrain in the Middle East from July 22nd to 25th. We discussed starting a new cooperation project with the Bahrain National Museum and made onsite surveys on the status of ruins targeted in this cooperation project. Specifically, Dr. Salman Al Mahari, Director General of the museum, requested that we support establishing conservation techniques for historically valuable gravestones of the early Islamic period, which were left in mosques, shrines, and graveyards. Responding to his request, we checked the conservation environments of the gravestones left in Al Khamis Mosque, the oldest mosque in Bahrain, and Abu Anbra graveyard located near Al Khamis Mosque. As a result of these surveys, we decided to start the cooperation by three-dimensional measurements of gravestones using photogrammetry and LiDAR scanning.
At the same time, three parties: the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, TOBUNKEN, and the Institute for the Study of Ancient Civilizations and Cultural Resources, Kanazawa University are working to set up a new research center in the Bahrain National Museum and develop international cooperation activities based in this center so as to promote archaeological research and protection of cultural heritage in Bahrain and neighboring countries. We discussed with Dr. Salman the foundation policy of this center. Further, we informed the Japanese ambassador in Bahrain of our progress and promised to continue closely sharing information.
A glimpse of the online international training course
The Japan Center for International Cooperation in Conservation provided an online international training course, “Documentation of Cultural Heritage by Three-dimensional Photogrammetry,” on November 12th and 25th, 2020, jointly with the Japanese Centre for South Asian Cultural Heritage (JCSACH), a non-profit organization. It was aimed at promoting active incorporation of digital data as a method of international cooperation in the field of cultural heritage post COVID-19. Three-dimensional photogrammetry is a technique to create a 3D model of the exact shape of an object on a computer from photographs of the object taken from various angles by a digital camera. Since 3D models can be created using familiar equipment, such as compact digital cameras and smartphones, it is becoming popular in cultural heritage sites as a highly practical recording method. For this training course, researchers and practitioners who are responsible for the conservation of cultural heritage in four countries were invited. These included Cambodia, Nepal, and Iran, where Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties is carrying out international cooperation programs, and Pakistan, with which JCSACH enjoys close ties.
Mr. NOGUCHI Atsushi, the Director-cum-Secretary General of JCSACH, who is a leading expert in 3D photogrammetry technique in the field of archaeology, served as lecturer. In the first lecture, the trainees learned the principles of 3D photogrammetry, how to take photographs to be used for photogrammetry, and basic operation of the software. They worked on creating their own 3D models during a week of independent practice after the first lecture. In the second lecture, the trainees presented the models they had created and learned more advanced techniques, such as how to create cross-sectional views from the models.
A total of 24 researchers and practitioners from Cambodia, Nepal, and Pakistan participated in the online training course. It was unfortunate that the Iranian participants were not able to take part due to a problem with the Zoom connection, but they were provided with the course materials. Most of the trainees had never had any prior experience with 3D photogrammetry. However, they were eager to ask questions. Further, in the post-participation survey, they shared their own ideas on how to use 3D photogrammetry data, such as for recording remains at restoration sites, or for museum exhibitions.
Once 3D photogrammetry becomes a common documentation method in every country and sharing 3D information on cultural heritage becomes possible remotely, we will be able to see new developments in international cooperation projects in the future.
Study on the reinforcement measures for the foundation structure of the East Gate
The ICC Secretariat visited the restoration work site of the East Gate (courtesy of APSARA)
Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties provides continuous technical support to the Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap (APSARA) for the conservation and sustainable development of the ruins of Ta Nei Temple in Angkor, Cambodia. Last year, the restoration of the East Gate began under the Conservation and Sustainable Development Plan jointly developed by APSARA and the Institute. APSARA is responsible for securing the budget for materials and labors, as well as implementing the work. The Institute provides technical assistance on restoration methodologies and procedures, as well as cooperation in architectural and archaeological surveys before and during the work.
The possibility of our visiting Cambodia has all but disappeared after March this year, due to the global travel bans implemented to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we cannot suspend the restoration work for our convenience, given that COVID-19 has not spread widely in Cambodia and the Cambodian counterpart has been continued regular site duties. From April, we have been benefiting from the advantages of Information & Communication Technology (ICT), actively utilizing interactive networking services with smartphones, besides normal e-mail messaging, to grasp real-time conditions at the site and hold online meetings as needed.
On the 21st of April, an online meeting was conducted with the East Gate restoration team of APSARA to share the result of the foundation’s geological testing during February and March and discuss restoration methods and structural reinforcement measures, based on the test result. Two of our collaborators, Professor KOSHIHARA Mikio (Structural Engineering) and Professor KUWANO Reiko (Geo-technical Engineering) from the Institute of Industrial Science, the University of Tokyo, joined the meeting. After an in-depth discussion from a scientific perspective, the participants finally agreed on a basic scheme for the restoration and reinforcement with an aim to balance heritage authenticity and structural safety. Under this basic scheme, online meetings were held in May and July to study about treating the foundation and superstructure, respectively. We had interactive discussions and shared ideas, plans, and other useful information, as well as the site’s latest condition, and decided that, at this stage, the concrete restoration/reinforcement method be considered the most appropriate one.
The Technical Session of the International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor (ICC), organized at APSARA headquarters in June every year, was also postponed, and only the site visit by the ICC co-chairs and the secretariat was done this year. APSARA and the Institute jointly made the progress report and work plan of the project, including the activities mentioned above, and submitted it to the ICC secretariat prior to their site visit. We also held an online meeting with Professor MASUI Masaya of Kyoto University Graduate School, a member of the Ad Hoc Expert Group of the ICC, who supervised and advised us on our recent issues and the project’s work plan and exchanged information about latest information concerning international cooperation on Angkor.
In this way, we accidentally realized a potential of ICT in heritage conservation. Indeed, there is a natural limit to conservation efforts based on telecommunication and remote information sharing because the universal value of cultural heritage is in its object itself. We hope that the world returns to normal, after overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic, and the days of unrestricted international travel are back soon.
