Modeling the 8th-century BC ‘Midas Tomb’ for Research and Tourism

The 8th-century BC ‘Midas Tomb’ in Tumulus MM at Gordion, Türkiye, is the oldest standing wooden structure in the world.  Yet, the need to maintain a stable environment, its size, and fragility, make it relatively inaccessable for research and tourism.  Begun in 2021, archaeologists, XR/VR specialists, digital artists, and historic architects have generated a 3D digital model of the tomb that is presently the most accurate record of this unique structure.

Matthew Harpster received his PhD in 2005, and has since held research and teaching posts at MIT, Eastern Mediterranean University, the Universities of Birmingham and Tübingen, and is the Director of KUDAR, the Koç University Mustafa V. Koç Maritime Archaeology Research Center. 

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