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ON THE ANALYSIS AND DIGITIZATION OF MONGOLIAN ARTIFACTS
Tsogtgerel YADAMRAGCHAA; Sharifu URA
Type:
Year:
2025
Editor:
Yong Se Kim; Yutaka Nomaguchi; Cees de Bont; Jianxi Luo; Xiaofang Yuan; Linna Hu; Meng Wang
Author:
Series:
Other endorsed
Institution:
Kitami Institute of Technology, Japan
Page(s):
307-314
Abstract:
Mongolian artifacts (clothing, architecture, furniture, carpets, and tools) exhibit distinctive patterns rooted in nomadic traditions. This article presents a method to analyze and digitize those patterns. The method comprises four serial modules: representation, analysis, virtual modeling, and physical modeling. The representation module prepares artifact data for analysis. The analysis module detects basic motifs associated with the artifact’s patterns using a predefined taxonomy of motifs: geometric, plant, symbol, animal, and nature based. Each motif identified through this classification is then expressed in mathematical form. The virtual modeling module aggregates the mathematically defined motifs underlying the artifact into a single compound motif and converts it to a CAD model using a point-cloud-to-CAD-model approach. The physical modeling module generates manufacturing data from the CAD model. In this study, STL data (triangular tessellation of the CAD model) serve as the manufacturing input for 3D printing. A case study validates the method by successfully recreating an embroidered pattern consisting of several geometric motifs found in a Mongolian artifact. Beyond preservation, the method can support museum display, education, and souvenirs. It can also promote standardized documentation across curators, designers, and researchers. As the number of skilled artisans declines, this digital design and manufacturing pipeline provides a practical, sustainable means to document, replicate, and disseminate Mongolian cultural heritage, thereby safeguarding tradition and identity.
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