Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.daach.2026.e00494
Muhammed Emin Akyürek
Ishrat-Khana Mausoleum in Samarkand, a Timurid artifact, represents a significant example of the 15th century with its ribbed domes, opening a new era in the region's architecture. However, it was surveyed only once by hand drawing and has been standing in ruins due to its geometric complexity. Subsequent restoration attempts, on the other hand, contain serious faults. This study is about the geometric reconstruction of Ishrat-Khana's superstructure to contribute to possible restorations. The study offers one of the first comprehensive studies on ribbed domes in Transoxania, filling a significant gap in the literature. The geometry of the ribbed domes has been analyzed according to some design parameters inspired by historical drawings. The analyses revealed that restorations in the central hall and the masjid contain methodical errors, while the restitution drawings are also incorrect for the southern hall and the basement. As a result, a specific formulation for drawing a potential comprehensive restoration has been proposed.
{"title":"Geometric reconstruction of ribbed domes covering the Ishrat-Khana Mausoleum in Samarkand","authors":"Muhammed Emin Akyürek","doi":"10.1016/j.daach.2026.e00494","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.daach.2026.e00494","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ishrat-Khana Mausoleum in Samarkand, a Timurid artifact, represents a significant example of the 15th century with its ribbed domes, opening a new era in the region's architecture. However, it was surveyed only once by hand drawing and has been standing in ruins due to its geometric complexity. Subsequent restoration attempts, on the other hand, contain serious faults. This study is about the geometric reconstruction of Ishrat-Khana's superstructure to contribute to possible restorations. The study offers one of the first comprehensive studies on ribbed domes in Transoxania, filling a significant gap in the literature. The geometry of the ribbed domes has been analyzed according to some design parameters inspired by historical drawings. The analyses revealed that restorations in the central hall and the masjid contain methodical errors, while the restitution drawings are also incorrect for the southern hall and the basement. As a result, a specific formulation for drawing a potential comprehensive restoration has been proposed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38225,"journal":{"name":"Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article e00494"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976792","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.daach.2026.e00496
Alessandra Chirivì, Eva Pietroni, Matteo Greco, Andrea Pandurino, Alberto Bucciero
The paper provides an overview of the innovative digital services and tools implemented within three research projects aimed at increasing knowledge and promoting the enhancement of illuminated manuscripts: Codex 4D, DataSpace-ISPC and Illuminated Manuscripts Hub. These very fragile and complex artifacts are contemplated in their dual role as physical objects and carriers of symbolic content. They are investigated and presented in their multiple tangible and intangible elements (codicological, palaeographic, art historical, material, etc.). Despite the peculiarities of the different actions, we propose an innovative multidisciplinary approach to the construction of cultural ecosystems and virtual representations able to integrate several information levels and making them accessible to both the research community and the general public in interactive virtual and mixed reality environments. To connect these various digital resources, the use of a knowledge graph governed by a semantic reference model was tested. The data visualisation approach employed a multimodal strategy using interoperable frameworks. Beginning with semantic representation, the method enables multidimensional information exploration through a knowledge graph, 2D visualisation systems using the IIIF standard, and interactive 3D environments powered by ATON. Each application provides specific tools for managing data entry and curation activities.
{"title":"An evolving scenario in the study of illuminated manuscripts: innovative approaches to research questions","authors":"Alessandra Chirivì, Eva Pietroni, Matteo Greco, Andrea Pandurino, Alberto Bucciero","doi":"10.1016/j.daach.2026.e00496","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.daach.2026.e00496","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The paper provides an overview of the innovative digital services and tools implemented within three research projects aimed at increasing knowledge and promoting the enhancement of illuminated manuscripts: Codex 4D, DataSpace-ISPC and Illuminated Manuscripts Hub. These very fragile and complex artifacts are contemplated in their dual role as physical objects and carriers of symbolic content. They are investigated and presented in their multiple tangible and intangible elements (codicological, palaeographic, art historical, material, etc.). Despite the peculiarities of the different actions, we propose an innovative multidisciplinary approach to the construction of cultural ecosystems and virtual representations able to integrate several information levels and making them accessible to both the research community and the general public in interactive virtual and mixed reality environments. To connect these various digital resources, the use of a knowledge graph governed by a semantic reference model was tested. The data visualisation approach employed a multimodal strategy using interoperable frameworks. Beginning with semantic representation, the method enables multidimensional information exploration through a knowledge graph, 2D visualisation systems using the IIIF standard, and interactive 3D environments powered by ATON. Each application provides specific tools for managing data entry and curation activities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38225,"journal":{"name":"Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article e00496"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.daach.2026.e00495
Vagner Porto , Maria Cristina Kormikiari , Tamar Hodos , Juliana Hora , Guilherme Rodrigues , Jessica Mendes , Cleberson Moura , Ana Rigolon , Carlos Sousa
This paper presents the initial phase of the project Cultural Contacts in Judaea-Palaestina During the Roman Period. The study focuses on Roman-period numismatic resources discovered in Area G of the Tel Dor archaeological site in Israel. The aim was to catalog these items using photographic techniques to aid in their identification, as many exhibited wear and/or oxidation due to their place of origin. The methods applied included axial photography and Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), conducted by two research teams—one on-site and another working remotely. These approaches made it possible to accurately reclassify coins and identify previously unclassified ones, demonstrating the positive contribution of these tools to material culture research.
{"title":"Application of the RTI (Reflectance Transformation Imaging) technique on coins from Tel Dor, Israel: some considerations","authors":"Vagner Porto , Maria Cristina Kormikiari , Tamar Hodos , Juliana Hora , Guilherme Rodrigues , Jessica Mendes , Cleberson Moura , Ana Rigolon , Carlos Sousa","doi":"10.1016/j.daach.2026.e00495","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.daach.2026.e00495","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper presents the initial phase of the project <em>Cultural Contacts in</em> Judaea-Palaestina <em>During the Roman Period</em>. The study focuses on Roman-period numismatic resources discovered in Area G of the Tel Dor archaeological site in Israel. The aim was to catalog these items using photographic techniques to aid in their identification, as many exhibited wear and/or oxidation due to their place of origin. The methods applied included axial photography and Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), conducted by two research teams—one on-site and another working remotely. These approaches made it possible to accurately reclassify coins and identify previously unclassified ones, demonstrating the positive contribution of these tools to material culture research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38225,"journal":{"name":"Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article e00495"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-25DOI: 10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00493
Gunnar Almevik , Jonathan Westin
Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of exceptional significance, housing more than 7000 graffiti inscriptions carved over a millennium. These shallow markings, etched into frescoes and architectural elements, constitute a vast and layered source of knowledge on religious practices, language development, cultural exchange, and everyday life. In light of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the acute risk of cultural heritage loss, a Swedish–Ukrainian collaboration was initiated to digitally preserve the cathedral's inscriptions and to make them accessible for research and public dissemination.
This article presents the outcomes of a fieldwork-based, practice-led research project assessing visual archaeology techniques for documentation under conflict conditions. The project tested and refined workflows using Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), Structure from Motion (SfM), and terrestrial laser scanning to capture both the spatial context and the intricate detail of the inscriptions. The challenges of working in a war zone—limited access, lighting conditions, and the sacred character of the site—necessitated significant adaptations and underscored the need for situational judgement in digitisation processes.
Stakeholder engagement played a central role in defining data needs across disciplines, from epigraphy and palaeography to conservation and art history. The project also established scalable protocols and provided training to local heritage professionals, thereby building capacity for ongoing documentation. While only 30 per cent of the graffiti surfaces have been digitised to date, the project demonstrates that quality in digital preservation is not solely a matter of technical specification, but also of contextual adaptation, stakeholder engagement, and relevance to future knowledge-making under conditions of uncertainty.
{"title":"Writing's on the wall visual archaeology techniques to elicit the historical graffiti in Saint Sophia cathedral in Kyiv","authors":"Gunnar Almevik , Jonathan Westin","doi":"10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00493","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00493","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of exceptional significance, housing more than 7000 graffiti inscriptions carved over a millennium. These shallow markings, etched into frescoes and architectural elements, constitute a vast and layered source of knowledge on religious practices, language development, cultural exchange, and everyday life. In light of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the acute risk of cultural heritage loss, a Swedish–Ukrainian collaboration was initiated to digitally preserve the cathedral's inscriptions and to make them accessible for research and public dissemination.</div><div>This article presents the outcomes of a fieldwork-based, practice-led research project assessing visual archaeology techniques for documentation under conflict conditions. The project tested and refined workflows using Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), Structure from Motion (SfM), and terrestrial laser scanning to capture both the spatial context and the intricate detail of the inscriptions. The challenges of working in a war zone—limited access, lighting conditions, and the sacred character of the site—necessitated significant adaptations and underscored the need for situational judgement in digitisation processes.</div><div>Stakeholder engagement played a central role in defining data needs across disciplines, from epigraphy and palaeography to conservation and art history. The project also established scalable protocols and provided training to local heritage professionals, thereby building capacity for ongoing documentation. While only 30 per cent of the graffiti surfaces have been digitised to date, the project demonstrates that quality in digital preservation is not solely a matter of technical specification, but also of contextual adaptation, stakeholder engagement, and relevance to future knowledge-making under conditions of uncertainty.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38225,"journal":{"name":"Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article e00493"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Over time, cultural heritage sites deteriorate, making it vital to document their original state for future generations. We present an efficient system for 3D modeling and reconstruction of cultural heritage, demonstrated on Patan Durbar Square. Short video clips were captured from various angles using an iPhone 13, and individual frames were extracted to form overlapping datasets of about 900–1300 frames per site. Using COLMAP for camera pose and sparse point cloud estimation, Gaussian splatting reconstructed both geometry and appearance. However, the baseline implementation introduced artifacts and required extensive training. We therefore evaluated multiple strategies, including Splatfacto and artifact removal and segmentation methods. Combining GroundingDINO and SAM effectively removed people and birds, while Splatfacto with masking and bilateral grids produced high-quality reconstructions. The proposed pipeline enables accurate, scalable, and efficient 3D documentation of cultural heritage sites.
{"title":"3D reconstruction of cultural heritage sites; A case study of Patan Durbar Square","authors":"Pratik Shrestha, Sujan Kapali, Vishal Pokharel, Jyoti Tandukar, Santosh Giri, Amrit Aryal","doi":"10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00492","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00492","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over time, cultural heritage sites deteriorate, making it vital to document their original state for future generations. We present an efficient system for 3D modeling and reconstruction of cultural heritage, demonstrated on Patan Durbar Square. Short video clips were captured from various angles using an iPhone 13, and individual frames were extracted to form overlapping datasets of about 900–1300 frames per site. Using COLMAP for camera pose and sparse point cloud estimation, Gaussian splatting reconstructed both geometry and appearance. However, the baseline implementation introduced artifacts and required extensive training. We therefore evaluated multiple strategies, including Splatfacto and artifact removal and segmentation methods. Combining GroundingDINO and SAM effectively removed people and birds, while Splatfacto with masking and bilateral grids produced high-quality reconstructions. The proposed pipeline enables accurate, scalable, and efficient 3D documentation of cultural heritage sites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38225,"journal":{"name":"Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article e00492"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00490
Beylem Doğa Tabur, Fatma Nurşen Kul
This study aims to provide an original methodological framework for the digital reconstruction of Gülbahçe, a historically layered settlement in western Anatolia, Türkiye, which has experienced significant transformations and heritage loss over time. Confronting the challenge of limited documentation regarding its original condition, the study employs hypothetical spatial assumption by integrating comparative typologies, oral history, architectural drawings, and environmental data to digitally reconstruct the village's 19th century spatial and cultural character. This character evolved dramatically following the 1922 population exchange and was further transformed in the 1970s through tourism-driven urban development, the establishment of a university campus, and counter-urbanisation triggered by pandemics and earthquakes. The novelty of this research lies in addressing a critical methodological gap within digital heritage studies by introducing a geometry-based reconstruction technique specifically created for data-scarce heritage contexts often excluded from approaches reliant on rich archival or photogrammetric datasets. The proposed method integrates limited data within a transparent, evidence-based process that presents both the reliability level and the interpretive assumptions behind each modelling decision. By producing a historically grounded and immersive digital environment, the approach responds to the technical and ethical challenges of representing lost heritage, reinforcing discussions on interpretive accountability, community memory, and intercultural dialogue. Ultimately, this interdisciplinary and ethically informed methodology positions digital reconstruction as both an analytical and communicative tool—an adaptable model for documenting, responsibly interpreting, and conveying heritage that has been physically lost but remembered for its cultural significance and is under threat from urbanisation or environmental change.
{"title":"Reconstructing lost heritage: digital presentation of 19th century rural landscape of Gülbahçe (İzmir, Türkiye)","authors":"Beylem Doğa Tabur, Fatma Nurşen Kul","doi":"10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00490","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00490","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aims to provide an original methodological framework for the digital reconstruction of Gülbahçe, a historically layered settlement in western Anatolia, Türkiye, which has experienced significant transformations and heritage loss over time. Confronting the challenge of limited documentation regarding its original condition, the study employs hypothetical spatial assumption by integrating comparative typologies, oral history, architectural drawings, and environmental data to digitally reconstruct the village's 19th century spatial and cultural character. This character evolved dramatically following the 1922 population exchange and was further transformed in the 1970s through tourism-driven urban development, the establishment of a university campus, and counter-urbanisation triggered by pandemics and earthquakes. The novelty of this research lies in addressing a critical methodological gap within digital heritage studies by introducing a geometry-based reconstruction technique specifically created for data-scarce heritage contexts often excluded from approaches reliant on rich archival or photogrammetric datasets. The proposed method integrates limited data within a transparent, evidence-based process that presents both the reliability level and the interpretive assumptions behind each modelling decision. By producing a historically grounded and immersive digital environment, the approach responds to the technical and ethical challenges of representing lost heritage, reinforcing discussions on interpretive accountability, community memory, and intercultural dialogue. Ultimately, this interdisciplinary and ethically informed methodology positions digital reconstruction as both an analytical and communicative tool—an adaptable model for documenting, responsibly interpreting, and conveying heritage that has been physically lost but remembered for its cultural significance and is under threat from urbanisation or environmental change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38225,"journal":{"name":"Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article e00490"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00489
Ayşenur Yelda Can , Mine Esmer
Abrank Surp Tavit Monastery, situated near Üçpınar Village in Erzincan's Tercan district, Eastern Anatolia, Turkey, stands as a significant yet critically endangered example of Armenian monastic heritage. This article presents a comprehensive study based on original data from fieldwork and archival research, documenting the monastery's complex history, intricate architectural fabric, current state of preservation, and proposing conservation strategies alongside a sustainable adaptive reuse plan. Combining terrestrial laser scanning and drone-assisted photogrammetry, the research provides unprecedented detailed documentation of the partially standing cruciform church, chapel, khachkars (UNESCO-listed Armenian cross-stones), and ruined auxiliary structures. Historical analysis traces the site's evolution from a pre-Christian religious center through its foundation (traditionally attributed to St. Gregory the Illuminator), 19th-century restoration, and subsequent abandonment. The monastery faces imminent loss due to structural instability, material decay, environmental factors, and human-induced damage like looting and vandalism. Emphasizing minimal intervention and material compatibility, the conservation proposal includes structural stabilization, material consolidation, and sensitive reintegration of lost elements. Crucially, the study advocates for adaptive reuse as a “Monument Museum” and open-air exhibition, respecting the site's spiritual legacy while ensuring its preservation and accessibility. This work fills a critical gap in the conservation of Armenian heritage in Turkey and offers a model for safeguarding similar endangered sites.
{"title":"Abrank Surp Tavit Monastery: Documenting, conserving, and rehabilitating a threatened Armenian cultural heritage site in Eastern Anatolia","authors":"Ayşenur Yelda Can , Mine Esmer","doi":"10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00489","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00489","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Abrank Surp Tavit Monastery, situated near Üçpınar Village in Erzincan's Tercan district, Eastern Anatolia, Turkey, stands as a significant yet critically endangered example of Armenian monastic heritage. This article presents a comprehensive study based on original data from fieldwork and archival research, documenting the monastery's complex history, intricate architectural fabric, current state of preservation, and proposing conservation strategies alongside a sustainable adaptive reuse plan. Combining terrestrial laser scanning and drone-assisted photogrammetry, the research provides unprecedented detailed documentation of the partially standing cruciform church, chapel, khachkars (UNESCO-listed Armenian cross-stones), and ruined auxiliary structures. Historical analysis traces the site's evolution from a pre-Christian religious center through its foundation (traditionally attributed to St. Gregory the Illuminator), 19th-century restoration, and subsequent abandonment. The monastery faces imminent loss due to structural instability, material decay, environmental factors, and human-induced damage like looting and vandalism. Emphasizing minimal intervention and material compatibility, the conservation proposal includes structural stabilization, material consolidation, and sensitive reintegration of lost elements. Crucially, the study advocates for adaptive reuse as a “Monument Museum” and open-air exhibition, respecting the site's spiritual legacy while ensuring its preservation and accessibility. This work fills a critical gap in the conservation of Armenian heritage in Turkey and offers a model for safeguarding similar endangered sites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38225,"journal":{"name":"Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article e00489"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-10DOI: 10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00491
George A. Lyras , George Caridakis , Emmanuel Galanopoulos , Nikolaos Karydas , Alexandros Iakovidis , Konstantinos Paraskevopoulos , Konstantinos Gelegenis , Georgia Kotzamani , Myrsini Voulgari , George Karadimos , George Sofianopoulos , Symeon Papazoglou , Panagiotis Kaddas , Evangelia Besiou , George Kontakiotis , Anna Vaptisma , Alexia Grambas , Vasiliki Alexoudi , Assimina Antonarakou
The challenge of visualizing complex, multi-million-year historical and natural changes in an accessible, engaging, and scientifically grounded manner for a broad audience is significant. This paper introduces PalaeoScope, an innovative virtual reality platform developed to address this challenge by reconstructing the natural and cultural history of the Athens basin across six pivotal time periods. Our primary objective was to create both immersive and non-immersive VR applications that allow users to visualize key epochs: the Late Cretaceous (72 Ma), Late Miocene (7.3 Ma), Early Pleistocene (2 Ma), Early Holocene (9,000 years ago), Classical Athens (5th century B.C.), and late 19th century. Through a robust, interdisciplinary methodology leveraging advanced 3D modeling, geological, palaeontological, archaeological, and historical data, PalaeoScope reconstructs ancient ecosystems, extinct species, and historical landmarks. PalaeoScope offers a unique tool for digital storytelling, enhancing understanding of long-term environmental and urban transformations, promoting scientific transparency, and providing a reproducible framework for paleoart and historical visualization. We detail the scientific, practical, and artistic considerations involved in the creation of these reconstructions, aiming to enhance transparency and reproducibility for future digital heritage projects.
{"title":"PalaeoScope: Visualizing 72 million years of Athens via eXtended reality","authors":"George A. Lyras , George Caridakis , Emmanuel Galanopoulos , Nikolaos Karydas , Alexandros Iakovidis , Konstantinos Paraskevopoulos , Konstantinos Gelegenis , Georgia Kotzamani , Myrsini Voulgari , George Karadimos , George Sofianopoulos , Symeon Papazoglou , Panagiotis Kaddas , Evangelia Besiou , George Kontakiotis , Anna Vaptisma , Alexia Grambas , Vasiliki Alexoudi , Assimina Antonarakou","doi":"10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00491","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00491","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The challenge of visualizing complex, multi-million-year historical and natural changes in an accessible, engaging, and scientifically grounded manner for a broad audience is significant. This paper introduces PalaeoScope, an innovative virtual reality platform developed to address this challenge by reconstructing the natural and cultural history of the Athens basin across six pivotal time periods. Our primary objective was to create both immersive and non-immersive VR applications that allow users to visualize key epochs: the Late Cretaceous (72 Ma), Late Miocene (7.3 Ma), Early Pleistocene (2 Ma), Early Holocene (9,000 years ago), Classical Athens (5th century B.C.), and late 19th century. Through a robust, interdisciplinary methodology leveraging advanced 3D modeling, geological, palaeontological, archaeological, and historical data, PalaeoScope reconstructs ancient ecosystems, extinct species, and historical landmarks. PalaeoScope offers a unique tool for digital storytelling, enhancing understanding of long-term environmental and urban transformations, promoting scientific transparency, and providing a reproducible framework for paleoart and historical visualization. We detail the scientific, practical, and artistic considerations involved in the creation of these reconstructions, aiming to enhance transparency and reproducibility for future digital heritage projects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38225,"journal":{"name":"Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article e00491"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790502","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-04DOI: 10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00488
Beatrice Luci
The study explores the use of digital technologies in field documentation and analysis of medieval Latin inscriptions and focuses on three digital methods: Photogrammetry, RTI and micro-photogrammetry. It highlights the importance of Photogrammetry for creating detailed 3D models and orthophotos to enhance the readability of inscriptions in complex urban settings. Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) improves the visualization of text on deteriorating surfaces by utilising multidirectional lighting, while a new micro-photogrammetric method with a USB microscope allows for detailed examination of technological traces at the mesoscopic scale. The study will explore this use of digital technologies using three inscriptions from the province of Viterbo (Italy) dating from the 13th-15th centuries as case studies, one for each method: photogrammetry will be applied to the commemorative inscription (13th century: 1279) on the Sepale fountain in Viterbo; RTI will be tested on the commemorative inscription (14th century: 1333) of the church of S. Maria Assunta in Orte; finally, micro-photogrammetry will be applied to the funerary inscription (15th century: 1403) of the church of S. Maria Maggiore in Civita Castellana. The research suggests that while no single technique can address all challenges, a combined digital approach can effectively complement traditional methods in documenting medieval inscriptions, aiding in the development of comprehensive protocols for their preservation and analysis.
{"title":"Unveiling the hidden stories: the impact of digital technologies in medieval Latin epigraphic field documentation","authors":"Beatrice Luci","doi":"10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00488","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00488","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study explores the use of digital technologies in field documentation and analysis of medieval Latin inscriptions and focuses on three digital methods: Photogrammetry, RTI and micro-photogrammetry. It highlights the importance of Photogrammetry for creating detailed 3D models and orthophotos to enhance the readability of inscriptions in complex urban settings. Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) improves the visualization of text on deteriorating surfaces by utilising multidirectional lighting, while a new micro-photogrammetric method with a USB microscope allows for detailed examination of technological traces at the mesoscopic scale. The study will explore this use of digital technologies using three inscriptions from the province of Viterbo (Italy) dating from the 13th-15th centuries as case studies, one for each method: photogrammetry will be applied to the commemorative inscription (13th century: 1279) on the Sepale fountain in Viterbo; RTI will be tested on the commemorative inscription (14th century: 1333) of the church of S. Maria Assunta in Orte; finally, micro-photogrammetry will be applied to the funerary inscription (15th century: 1403) of the church of S. Maria Maggiore in Civita Castellana. The research suggests that while no single technique can address all challenges, a combined digital approach can effectively complement traditional methods in documenting medieval inscriptions, aiding in the development of comprehensive protocols for their preservation and analysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38225,"journal":{"name":"Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article e00488"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737255","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-01DOI: 10.1016/j.daach.2025.e00483
Eslam Nofal , Sondos T. Afandy , Ramy Hammady , Mohamed W. Fareed
The integration of digital features into physical replicas offers a transformative approach to enhancing museum communication, bridging tangible heritage with new interpretive tools. Drawing on expert judgement in the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), this research offers guidelines to harmonize digital enhancements with different heritage content types, showing the interplay between the physical and digital dimensions in a museum setting. The study analyzed twenty-five interactive museum prototypes, identifying six categories of heritage content: historical context, architectural aspects, spatial dimensions, aesthetic features, social context, and scientific information. Five digital features (i.e., audio materials, digital displays, projections, digital 3D reconstructions, and gamification) were evaluated by experts for their communication effectiveness based on content types. Results indicated that digital 3D reconstructions are better at historical context, architecture, spatial, and aesthetic displays; gamification can convey social contexts more effectively. Audio materials are better at simplification of complex scientific information. This research highlights the potential of tailored digital-physical integrations to optimize museum communication, providing curators and designers with actionable insights for creating meaningful, expert-driven experiences. The findings emphasize the importance of aligning technological innovation with the preservation of cultural authenticity to ensure that hybrid spaces foster engagement, understanding, and inclusivity in cultural heritage interpretation.
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