This web site is one of the first to reveal a practical use of scanners to cure the everyday workload of all archaeology projects. It comes as a surprise to many people that you can record 3-dimensional objects on a flatbed scanner. Yes, there are specialized scanners for 3D objects, but those cost a fortune, outside the reach of any archaeology research project. But a good quality flatbed scanner can do the job just fine. Now the Power Look 3 is out, and that can record sherds even more precisely.
Botanists can scan their botanical specimens a lot more accurately, in color.
Geologists can scan their rock samples and get all the details of the crystal structure, the minute color changes, and everything else they need to record. Today, a flatbed scanner is as crucial for any research lab, museum, or professional person as a basic camera has always been. Obviously you have to place the painted side down on the glass, but this picture is just to reveal how fully three-dimensional these sherds are. They are thick, and quite curved, yet the scanner was able to capture all the archaeological detail marvelously. Since F.L.A.A.R. itself does not own or otherwise have any ceramic artifacts, we borrowed these from a research center to record them.