Bringing gravestones into the digital age

Heritage Week event for Arra Historical & Archaeological Society

As part of National Heritage Week, the Arra Historical & Archaeological Society hosted a unique event at Burgessbeg Graveyard on Sunday, August 24.

Heritage photographer Ken Williams of Shadows and Stone demonstrated how gravestones can be digitally preserved using 3D photogrammetry. Attendees gathered at the graveyard in the morning to see the photographic process in action, before moving to Boher Community Centre where Williams showcased how the images are processed into accurate, interactive 3D models. These digital reconstructions capture the intricate carvings on headstones - sometimes revealing details invisible to the naked eye - and ensure that they can be viewed and studied from anywhere in the world.

The event drew a wide audience, including participants from as far afield as Australia, and was supported by the Boher Community Development Group, who provided facilities for the workshop. Local volunteers also contributed, ensuring a warm welcome with tea, coffee, and photography to document the day.

The demonstration forms part of a larger Society project, funded by the Heritage Council, to digitally record gravestones in Burgessbeg graveyard and hopefully to eventually roll this out to other graveyards in the half-barony of Arra. Already, several 3D models have been published online via the Society’s Sketchfab page, offering global access to this important heritage resource.

One notable gravestone recorded was that of Margaret Kennedy, who died in 1820 at the age of 23. Her inscription wasn’t included in the Ormond Historical Society’s wonderful work of recording inscriptions in the graveyard in 1988.

Its rediscovery highlighted the importance of resurveying graveyards, as inscriptions can become hidden or re-emerge over time. The project does not just record inscriptions but also the wonderful artwork and motifs on these unique gravestones.

The Society has expressed its gratitude to the Heritage Council for funding, to the Burgessbeg Graveyard Committee for their careful upkeep of the site, and to all who attended and supported the event. Looking ahead, members hope this project marks the beginning of a full digital record of all gravestones in the Arra area.

To explore the 3D gravestones already completed, visit: sketchfab.com/arrahistoricalsociety.