Low cost photogrammetry as a tool to enhance and preserve fossil collections: an example applied to Pleistocene molluscs from Gravina in Puglia (MurGEopark - Southern Italy)

Abstract

High-resolution photogrammetry has become a pivotal tool in palaeontology for scientific documentation, morphometric analysis, and virtual heritage preservation. This study details the photogrammetric workflow implemented to digitise Pleistocene fossil molluscs sampled near Gravina in Puglia (Southern Italy). A significant portion of these specimens corresponds to the fossil fauna originally investigated by Arcangelo Scacchi (1810–1893), who in 1835 described 16 new species from this area, most of which remain valid taxa. Because Scacchi’s original historical collection in Naples is currently incomplete, recent field resampling and cutting-edge 3D digitisation are crucial for integrating and preserving this historical archive. The resulting high-fidelity 3D models, characterized by an accurate surface geometry, not only support rigorous scientific documentation but also represent a valuable digital asset to enhance geo-education, geoconservation, and public dissemination within the recently designated MurGEopark UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp).