Behind the Scenes: Building a 3D Scan of the Cornell Sacred Ibis Mummy

When the Cornell mummy bird captured public interest, much of the narrative revolved around figuring out what kind of bird lay inside the linen bundle and how it was wrapped. The project gained significant media attention, with coverage from Smithsonian Magazine, Nature, Archaeology Magazine, CNN, and All About Birds highlighting the interdisciplinary research. My role was to digitize that outer wrapping — to capture, in 3D, the shape, texture, and subtle folds of the artifact — without disturbing its fragile structure. Working alongside other Cornell researchers, I used photogrammetry to turn dozens of photographs into a precise, manipulable digital twin, which then fed into comparative studies and the exhibition itself.

Scanning a 2,000-year-old mummy wrapped in fragile linen meant working under strict handling limits. The object couldn't be repositioned or touched more than absolutely necessary, and its fibrous surface offered few strong visual features for the software to lock onto. Lighting had to be diffuse and consistent, and every movement around the artifact was planned in advance to ensure total photographic coverage without physical stress.

Using a controlled lighting setup and high-overlap image capture, we photographed the mummy from multiple elevations and angles, feeding the images into a photogrammetry pipeline to reconstruct a detailed mesh and texture. After cleanup and decimation, the model was aligned with CT data, allowing researchers to compare external and internal structures — a fully digital twin of the artifact.

The resulting 3D model became both a research tool and a museum exhibit, integrated into a multisensory installation that let visitors explore the ibis virtually (created by Carol Anne Adams). Beyond this single artifact, the process demonstrated how accessible photogrammetry — even using open-source software and modest hardware — can bring ancient objects into the digital age without ever unwrapping them.

This project represents more than just a single artifact digitization — it's a proof of concept for how accessible technology can democratize digital preservation. The combination of careful planning, appropriate tools, and respect for the artifact's integrity shows that high-quality 3D scanning doesn't require expensive equipment, just thoughtful execution.