CAA2016

Emerging technologies for Archaeological Heritage: knowledge, digital documentation, communication.

martina attenni, carlo bianchini, alfonso ippolito

Abstract
Knowledge of archaeological artefacts at various representation scales is today required of any three-dimensional models. The significance of constructing digital models in the domain of archaeology is a well-established idea and only reinforces the theoretical bases of survey and representation, conceived as structured systems for organizing and communicating information, and as the databases for critical analysis that optimize the results obtained from the concerted work of archaeologists, architects, informatics experts, etc.
Presented here is a study of the Etruscan Sanctuary of Pyrgi (Santa Severa, Rome). Most of its archaeological material derives from ancient excavations. Only a few structural remnants have survived in loco, and numerous fragments of the decorative apparatus are partly exhibited in Museo Nazionale Etrusco at the Villa Giulia (Rome) and at the Antiquarium (Santa Severa).
The aim is to start a process never applied to the data on the Sanctuary. The objectives have been the following: documenting and unifying information obtained from various excavation campaigns at different times with surveying techniques that ensure an a-critical cognition of the analyzed object; present a digital reconstruction of the sacred area based on philological analysis of data; apply digital technologies for dissemination of information.
The core of the work is mainly based on the definition of 3D/2D/1D models based on several surveying and representation techniques (3D laser scanning, image-based modelling, semantic structuring). Attention has been focused on scientific advantages, costs, precision level guaranteed by various techniques as well as on digital visualization as the fundamental element of communication strategy.
This research illustrates a complete methodology for the virtual assembling and the communicating of dismounted archaeological elements. The study includes a wide classification of elements of tangible and intangible heritage within a digital platform used as the place of expeditious consultation of heterogeneous data taking into consideration various user typologies.