LONDON, April 26 (Xinhua) -- 3D technology has been used to re-create the lost tomb of one of Scotland's most revered heroes, Robert the Bruce.
The reconstructed tomb of the man who served as King of Scotland from 1306, went on display Friday at what is its final resting place, Dunfermline Abbey Church, the place where his body is buried.
Alex Paterson, CEO of Historic Environment Scotland (HES), presented the half-scale model of the lost tomb at an event in the Abbey Church Friday.
3D laser scanning was used to record all 19 known surviving fragments of the tomb, enabling them to be 3D printed and used by an a board of experts as the basis for academic study and reconstruction.
"I am delighted to see the model of the Lost Tomb of Robert the Bruce installed here in Dunfermline Abbey Parish Church. This fulfils a project that started six years ago, among the first of its kind in Scotland to use cutting edge 3D scanning. The public can now see what Robert the Bruce's tomb would have looked like, alongside his final resting place," said Dr Iain Fraser, Archives Manager at HES.
The tomb was destroyed during the Reformation, but fragments of it along with Bruce's remains were discovered in 1817 and excavated in 1818.
The remains of Robert the Bruce were reinterred beneath Dunfermline Abbey Church and the grave was sealed with a thick layer of molten bitumen to protect it from interference.
Robert the Bruce's life has been captured in numerous movies, including the Hollywood blockbuster, Braveheart.
