Yakut Khomus as an Object of Cultural Heritage Digitalization

This article examines the digitalization of a collection of Yakut khomuses (jew’s harps) as a means of preserving the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Sakha people. The khomus is considered a symbol of Yakutia’s spiritual culture and is included in the register of intangible cultural heritage of Russia. A review of research on the khomus, an instrument that has remained virtually unchanged for 5,000 years and exists in the cultures of nearly 90 countries worldwide, is presented. The main varieties of khomus, traditions, and characteristic performance styles of khomus music are analyzed. Modern technologies for 3D digitization of artifacts — structured light, laser scanning, photogrammetry, and digital modeling methods — are considered. Particular attention is paid to the methodology and implementation of technologies in the creation of digital copies of khomuses from the collections of the world’s only specialized Museum and Center for the Khomus of the Peoples of the World (Yakutsk). The following stages of the work are discussed: exhibit preparation, 3D scanning, photogrammetry, data post-processing, and manual 3D modeling. The specifics and challenges of scanning metal objects (glare, artifacts, and excessive mesh density) are highlighted, along with solutions that combine photogrammetry with manual model refinement. The research results and project developments of the authors are presented — 3D models of Yakut khomuses in a format suitable for integration into virtual museums, databases, and AR/VR applications. A digital collection of jew harps, jointly created by specialists from the Arctic State Institute of Culture and Arts, the National Library of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), and the Khomus Museum and Center of the Peoples of the World, is on display. It is in demand primarily in museology, musicology, culture, and education. In conclusion, the digitization of ethnocultural treasures, particularly national musical instruments, using an interdisciplinary approach is an effective means of preserving and updating the cultural heritage of the Sakha people in the digital age.

The creation of 3D models of Yakut khomuses is important both for archiving formal parameters and for preserving heritage in a new, digital form.

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