Historic Scotland is to digitally document Scotland's five World Heritage Sites.

Culture Minister Michael Russell announced the groundbreaking project involving the Antonine Wall, St Kilda, New Lanark, Heart of Neolithic Orkney, and the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh.

This will be matched with the documentation of five international heritage sites taking Scotland's expertise in heritage documentation and conservation around the world. Creating what will be known as the Scottish Ten.

The first international site will be Mount Rushmore in South Dakota which will be scanned in 3D to provide, for the first time, a visual documentation of this internationally important monument.


Michael Russell, Minister for Culture, said: "Scotland has great expertise and a wealth of experience in preserving, understanding and researching its historic environment. We have embraced 3D scanning to increase our awareness of heritage and are now able to share our knowledge in digital documentation with countries and organisations on a world stage for everyone to enjoy.

"Scotland is world leaders in the digital documentation and visualisation of heritage sites through the pioneering work of Historic Scotland and Glasgow School of Art and this allows us to build and develop that momentum. Recent work at Rosslyn Chapel and Stirling Castle shows what can be achieved and this project will demonstrate that we are at the cutting edge of technology with some of our oldest heritage sites."

The three organisations - Historic Scotland, The National Park Service and CyArk are now seeking to complete an agreement to share other expertise, explore further international collaboration and develop lasting cultural connections between Scotland and the United States.

(GK/JM)