The Role of Digitization in the Preservation and Study of Movable Archaeological Artifacts: A Case Study of the Islamic Art Museum in Cairo

The Islamic Art Museum in Cairo is regarded as one of the most important and oldest museums specializing in Islamic art worldwide. It houses the largest and most exquisite collection of movable Islamic artifacts, comprising approximately 103,000 artifacts that represent all branches of Islamic art across various Islamic eras. Many scholars have conducted in-depth research on several of the masterpieces within the museum. These diverse artifacts include wooden, glass, ceramic, metal, textile, jewelry, coins, weapons, stone, and marble objects, as well as manuscripts. The museum also contains sections dedicated to astronomy, mathematics, science, and medicine. The significance of this study lies in the use of technology and digitization for the preservation and documentation of both stored and displayed artifacts within the museum and in external exhibitions. The main aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of digitization in inventorying, recording, documenting, identifying, and preserving the masterpieces housed in the Islamic Art Museum situated in Cairo, whether on display or in storage. The study also aims to provide comprehensive sources of information and images for researchers and scholars inside and outside Egypt. Moreover, it aims to protect these movable objects from theft and counterfeiting. The paper depends on a descriptive and analytical approach by detailing the overall state of digitization in museums and specifically in the Islamic Art Museum in Cairo, examining digitization projects, tools, and technologies, and subsequently analyzing their efficacy in preserving, safeguarding, and studying movable archaeological artifacts.