Part of SCRAP’s commitment to public engagement involves the creation of learning resources and experimenting with technology-enabled learning.

Traditional Educational Resources

These resources, from Futurum Careers, include an article, classroom activity sheet, and more geared toward high-school-aged learners. You can also find other information brochures about our work under this website’s “Publications” tab, and other related educational resources under “Links & Other Resources.”

Three-Dimensional (3D) Modelling

At the moment, we are focused on generating 3D models of our excavations and artifacts, which we use during public presentations whenever possible. We host our 3D models for public viewing on our affiliated Sketchfab site, AU-Virtual Archaeology Lab, where you can see the SCRAP collection of models and other interesting archaeological materials.

In constructing our models, we currently use a combination of techniques. For small artifacts, we typically use a NextEngine 3D laser scanner and associated software, which is portable enough to take into the field if desired. For more oversized items–including artifacts and excavation areas–we have been experimenting with photogrammetry using Pentax K-x and K-50 SLR Digital cameras (various lenses) and even still frames from video shot with an iPhone. Whenever possible, we experiment with open-source software, such as CloudCompare and VisualSFM, but also play around with our licensed copies of Agisoft and SimLab. Since 2022, we’ve used LiDAR-enabled iPhone 13 Pros for our modelling.

The Alabama App

We have also developed an educational app focused on the Alabama archaeological site, in consultation with local school teachers in Maya Mopan and education professionals in Belize, for the purpose of primary school heritage education. The app is not currently available to the general public but will be in future. In relation to this work, which is funded by National Geographic, we have taken part in the Explorer Challenge and Exchange Questionnaire for school children.