Welcome to our 3D collection of artifacts. The purpose of this collection is to allow you to view your favorite objects from our David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins and to help you share your museum experience with your friends and family. Before our exhibit opened, the objects on display were either CT or laser scanned. The scanning process enabled Human Origins Progam staff to generate 3D models of each object that you can view, rotate, and interact with online. It may take a minute or two to load depending on your computer, but after it is loaded you will be able to move the 3D object around by holding down the left-click button and moving your mouse.

3D models of all specimens in our 3D Collection that are owned and curated by the Smithsonian Institution (i.e., Primates, Other Animals) are available for download for non-commercial use only. Please note that the 3D models of Fossil Hominins and Artifacts are not available for download. These are copies of specimens and objects that are owned and curated by other museums/institutions; thus, we do not distribute these data.

If you are interested in 3D data of primates or other animals, please go to the "Contact Us" page on this website, choose "Ask a question" from the drop-down menu under Category choice below, and paste "3D model download access" in the subject line of your message. We will respond to your request within a few weeks.

Click here for Advanced Instructions

Our 3D models are currently only viewable when using a Firefox web browser, as they require a Flash plugin. If you do not see a list of 3D models on each of our 3D collection pages (Artifacts, Fossils, Primates, and Other Animals), your web browser does not support this functionality. We are currently updating our files for easier viewing and access. Please check back again soon.