The Memory Twin Framework

Digitising Heritage. Preserving Authenticity. Building Knowledge.

The Memory Twin framework extends the concept of the Digital Twin beyond geometry alone. Where a Digital Twin replicates the physical form of a heritage asset, a Memory Twin embeds that geometry within layers of data, metadata, and paradata; capturing not only what an object looks like, but why it was documented that way, what remains uncertain, and what history, use, and meaning surround it. Grounded in CIDOC-CRM, FAIR and CARE principles, and aligned with EU standards such as VIGIE2020/654, the framework treats authenticity as something to be actively preserved through transparent, traceable documentation, not assumed from a scan alone. Applied to certified digitisation, it ensures that 3D models of cultural heritage remain scientifically defensible, reusable across disciplines, and resistant to the silent gap-filling risks of future AI systems. The goal is a digital record that doesn't just show a monument, but remembers it, safeguarding both its physical form and its cultural knowledge for generations to come.