[CaptainMorgantown]

Very cool.

I wonder if there are detailed enough photos, if that could be done with some of the landmarks and treasurers destroyed by Islamic Radicals.

I’m thinking in particular about the giant stone Buddhas in Afghanistan that were destroyed by the Taliban.

[mairdie]

The trick here was that they captured the images digitally while the cave existed. Doubt there’s much hope for the destroyed sites. But knowing the past, it’s time to digitally capture all the remaining sites and then DISTRIBUTE the copies everywhere so that they can’t again be destroyed.

Oh, but the possibilities for museums everywhere. It’s just stunning.

[Sequoyah101]

Does anyone know what material they used for the 3D printing media?

[AustinBill]

That should be possible as technology continues to advance. See, for example, this article.