Case Study: Archaeological Heritage Office traces Roman troop movements with Hexagon 3D scanning

3D scans of countermarks on coins to retrace Roman troop movements

The Archaeological Heritage Office of Saxony needed to analyze Roman coins with "VAR" countermarks to understand troop movements, but traditional 2D methods were insufficient for the detailed geometric and wear analysis required. To overcome this challenge, they worked with Hexagon and utilized the SmartScan 3D scanning system to capture high-resolution data of the coins.

Hexagon's solution involved creating detailed 3D models of the coins, which were then analyzed using a Procrustes statistical approach to compare their geometries. This method successfully identified five distinct use-wear phases of the countermark die. The results provided a refined chronological framework, enabling archaeologists to more accurately date sites and propose new theories about the timeline of Roman military campaigns prior to the defeat in 9 AD.