Archaeology and nature: hyblean cultural landscape and territorial ...

Fig. 2: Roman time, overlap Paget hypothesis to present look
We think the "virtual rebuilding" can help to understand the meaning of archaeological finds and the most
important problem is to define what to rebuilt, how to represent the reconstruction and what technology to
use.
The archaeological finds are generally only a "piece of matter" and to reduce the communication gap we can
reconstruct what is missing.
The use of digital media and 3D modelling opens new perspectives in archaeological research, it let us to
document the passage of the history, but it raises new questions about the ways of representing the
archaeological heritage[3].
The use of 3D models to represent hypotheses of reconstruction is a powerful tool that promotes
communication and dissemination of cultural content to a wide audience.
The 3D models allow us:
- to access to monuments at risk of damage, and therefore closed to the public;
- to document what the history has erased;
- to create new way of enjoyment of archaeological heritage without boundaries, in a virtual space;
- to obtain a dynamic view, from different points of view in space and time;
- to build an information system where we can access to data collected;
- to organize a database linked to the models and to territory[4].
In this field there are some different issues to deal and some needs to fulfil:
- we have to solve the problem of the credibility and validity of reconstruction models of object, monuments,
sites or landscapes partially o totally modified or destroyed, and virtually reconstructed based on
archaeological interpretation;
- we have to define a communication code to show the traces of philological work in 3D model to show
elements corresponding to reality from hypothesis;
- we have to chose what kind of representation to use: structural or hyperrealistic
- we have to design the interface for an interactive use of the models.
A problem often overlooked is the difficulty that the end user meets by using technological tools.
Sometimes, we used very complex systems and the interface isn't user friendly and it is very difficult to
understand for those who are not familiar with technology. In fact, we aren't willing to spend our own time to
learn how to use a tool that is only a means to acquire further knowledge. Moreover, a user, who feels
inferior, backward or inadequate respect to the proposed product, irritates and he renounces to use cultural
product.
Therefore, the interfaces must be designed with particular regard to the users, by ensuring their intuitiveness
and limiting as possible the technology interference.
3. The rule of representation
To define a communication strategy for enjoyment of Archaeological Heritage it's very important to work in a
multi-field team of experts made up of architects, archaeologists, computer specialists and communication.
experts.
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