Archeomatica

Cultural heritage: from Italy smart conservation and protection from fire, bacteria, water

Camilla Ghedini — 2024-11-28

Makros founded in 2018, is based
in Ferrara, Emilia Romagna. its
organization includes a technical
scientific committee of biologists,
mathematicians, physicists, computer
technicians and scientists,
architects, who direct research
and development, to which about
half of the profits are allocated.
Makros owns six patents, which can
be combined together. Clients are
public, private and even religious
authorities and institutions.

Archaeo-logos?

Redazione MediaGEO — 2024-11-28

Immersive Virtual Reality in Archaeology: Enhancing Research and Public Engagement - A Case Study of the Temple of Juno Excavations in Agrigento, Italy

Eleonora Lanfranco — 2024-11-28

The use of Virtual Reality (VR) is becoming
increasingly popular in the creation of innovative
content archiving and cataloguing
solutions. In the field of archaeology, the
utilisation of VR for both professional and
non-specialist applications remain a relatively
unexplored area. To address this gap,
we present a VR application designed to
streamline the storage and access of critical
data for archaeological studies, while
facilitating the presentation of these studies
to the public. The application interface
facilitates direct interaction with 3D
models generated through photogrammetry
and modelling techniques, facilitating
two distinct yet complementary objectives:
firstly, a detailed examination of the data
collected, which in turn improves research
activities; secondly, it brings visitors closer
to the world of archaeological research.
We applied this system to the case study of
excavations at the Temple of Juno in Agrigento,
Italy.

Artificial Beings in Archaeology: Bridging Historical Reality and Digital Simulation

Stefano Bertoldi — 2024-11-28

The "Johannes" project represents an innovative intersection of archaeology and artificial
intelligence, aiming to reconstruct and simulate the consciousness of a medieval
individual based on extensive archaeological data. By utilizing AI, specifically
a ChatGPT model, the project seeks to bridge the gap between material culture and
digital self-awareness. The AI is populated with data from the archaeological site of
Miranduolo, integrating information about the village's historical context, material
culture, and societal structures from the 7th to the early 14th century. This project
explores the challenges of limiting the AI's knowledge to what would have been
known by a 12th-century individual, thereby enriching the AI's "memories" with sensory
experiences and historically plausible narratives. The project raises significant
questions about the potential of AI in historical reconstruction, particularly in the
simulation of emotions, empathy, and self-awareness.
Ultimately, "Johannes" is not merely an intelligent collection of data but an experimental
artificial being capable of critical thought, subjective experiences, and
emotional expression. The implications of this project extend beyond archaeology,
offering new perspectives on the use of AI in understanding the past and its potential
as a teaching tool and a medium for theoretical exploration.

Revealing Tyndaris: a technological approach to archaeological conservation and study

Redazione MediaGEO — 2024-11-28

The archaeological site of Tyndaris
(currently Tindari, municipality of
Patti, province of Messina, Italy)
served as the backdrop for an important
technological and cultural
initiative organized by mediaGeo
on May 30, 2024: the “Technology
for All on the Road 2024”.
The event brought together university
professors, experts in geomatics,
archaeology, and engineering,
as well as industry professionals
engaged in applying advanced surveying
methodologies. The main
objective was to create precise and
detailed digital documentation of a
site useful for conservation, study,
and tourism enhancement.
During the event, a series of stateof-
the-art surveying technologies
were employed to map and meticulously
document the topography
and monuments of the ancient
Greek, and later Roman, city in Sicily—
an area for which a complete
survey is still lacking.

From Sport s Collectibles to the Digital Humanities: the Evolution of Technology and the Transformation of Consciousness

Luca Baraldi — 2024-11-28

For several decades now, we have been living through
rapidly accelerating technological change, at a
moment in history in which digitization is remaking
the relationship between knowledge and humanity.
Until recently, the act of passing down our history
from generation to generation was entrusted to
the voluntary or involuntary production of material
witnesses. But in today’s growing digital ecosystem,
historical memory has turned into data, computer
architectures, and algorithmic interpretations. It
is important not to approach this in purely technological
terms, but instead as a real epistemological
revolution. This not only changes the way we
do things; it is also changing the ways we perceive
them, know them, interpret them, and rework
them. History, culture, and knowledge are all part
of an evolving information ecosystem, which today,
more than ever, is based on the possibility of direct
interaction, immediate accessibility, and dynamic
modularity. All of this requires new skills and new
methodologies, born from an encounter between
humanistic knowledge and technology.

Cultural Heritage and Gamification: Xenia Progetti solutions that revolutionize the ways of learning and visiting cultural sites

Luca Antonio Falzone — 2024-11-28

In recent years, the concept of gamification has acquired increasing relevance, becoming a valid and recognized learning
methodology. Gamification, using characteristic elements of games, such as prizes, timed challenges and competitions,
makes the learning process more engaging and interactive, thus promoting the acquisition of knowledge. When integrated
with technology, this method turns into a highly effective tool, also capable of improving the user experience,
especially in certain contexts such as, for example, the cultural one. The adoption of gamification in cultural contexts not only attracts a larger and more diverse audience, but stimulates a more dynamic approach to culture and education.

Thermography for the conservation of historical art ifacts: the case of the Chinese Buddha in an underground environment

TEsto spa — 2024-11-28

Thermography is the ideal choice for protecting
historical treasures. Using this
technique, we are able to identify imperfections
that can damage our artifacts,
such as water infiltration or mold, invisible
to the naked eye. This technology is
increasingly widespread as a preventive
maintenance method for cultural and artistic
heritage throughout the world.
Thermography is not a measurement of
temperature, but is based on the principles
of thermodynamics: each body is
characterized by its own thermal emission
depending on its surface temperature,
which is in turn conditioned by the
thermal conductivity and specific heat of
each material. In fact, each material has
a different capacity to transmit or retain
heat.
Thermography allows us to investigate
and identify internal problems that are
not visible to the naked eye and is very
useful in various applications for the protection
of artistic and cultural heritage.