Heritage, Volume 6, Issue 8 (August 2023) – 19 articles

The medieval wall of Jaén is a historical monument that has suffered from the apathy of institutions in recent years, causing its calamitous current status. This study focuses on the previous geomatic tasks developed to obtain a 3D documentation of this site in order to manage future restoration works. The methodology included the integration of data obtained using several geomatic techniques, such as LiDAR and photogrammetry at three scale levels, from the general to the particular. Therefore, data fusion is the main aspect of this methodology, developed in an attempt to take advantage of the benefits of each technique. The application demonstrated the feasibility of using the methodology in order to obtain a complete documentation, including 3D models, orthoimages and DEMs, at several scales with different resolutions and point densities. In addition, we also considered the accuracy of data and products with respect to the project requirements. Another aspect to highlight is the reduction in acquisition time by minimizing the necessity of conducting classic surveying to obtain georeference data. The results show reliable products for supporting restoration tasks and allowing the development of a BIM application to manage them, but also for the dissemination of knowledge regarding this unknown monument. Full article

Because of the possibilities that it opens for a variety of fields and practices, gamification has increasingly garnered significant attention. This has put it at the forefront of many significant debates around its applicability and implications. In the case of its application to cultural heritage, although there is much trailblazing to do, the body of work has been growing and the field is gaining its maturity. As such, this paper aims to take stock of the directions the field has been moving towards—to provide orientation for future work and projects that are yet to be developed. To do this, the paper aims to map out the publications in the field of gamified cultural heritage, by conducting a broader and systematic literature review. The study has found that, with regards to who the main actors with publications in the field are, a prominence of European institutions and networks, namely from Italy, Greece and the United Kingdom, can be observed. Regarding what heritage is being gamified and for what purpose, the study found a prominence of focus on historical, architectural and archeological heritage values and a very significant focus on gamification being used for motivation/engagement and for creativity enhancement. When looking at the gamification design dimensions that are given prevalence, intrinsic motivation seems to be prioritized, and, with regards to the observed target publics, tourists and visitors and seem to prevail in gamified heritage projects, with children as a specific group coming in second. Regarding technologies and tools being used, Mobile Applications, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are particularly prevalent. Regarding mentioned future orientations, the study found that a vast majority of papers are self-contained, both in scope of work and discussion, with most of those that do mention future directions indicating continuation and/or expansion of their specific project. Full article

The primary purpose of this study is to open the discussion of FAIR principles in Finnish archaeology. This topic has not yet been actively discussed in Finnish archaeology. In this study, we were testing whether adding keywords could increase the reusability of the Register of Ancient Sites, as the reusability level of the current register is low. The case study focuses on creating an overview of the Iron Age sites in the Itä-Häme area. Keywords were added for all of the 585 archaeological sites in the study area, based on field reports and find catalogues. After giving keywords to all of the sites, it was possible to make queries from the register and form a new, more detailed overview of the Iron Age sites in the Itä-Häme area. Our study revealed mistakes and ambiguities in the register, but adding keywords increased its reusability. However, it cannot solve the main issue: basic research has not been carried out extensively enough in Finland. Based on the overview, it can be seen that Itä-Häme was an active and important area in the Iron Age, and an especially meaningful possible new site type was identified; however, more research in this area is needed. Full article

The diffuse data fruition of archaeological hypogeum sites still represents a challenge due to their limited accessibility and their preservation and maintenance issues. This implies that the fruition of these peculiar archaeological sites is often possible through digital reconstructions and interactive web navigation systems. The survey methodologies based on terrestrial laser scanning and photogrammetry allow making accurate and detailed digital reconstructions of these sites that are useful for virtual fruition purposes. In addition, many different systems can be used for remote web navigation and fruition. This work presents a possible solution for the virtual fruition of archaeological hypogea with a multiscale 3D web navigation system based on WebGL open-source technology. The system has been implemented for the Roman hypogeum of Crispia salvia, located in Marsala (southern Italy). The hypogeum belongs to the Archaeological Park of Lilibeo-Marsala and is considered one of the most important archaeological discoveries in this area for its extraordinary frescoes. Public accessibility of this site is limited because it is located outside the boundaries of the Archaeological Park, in the modern town, and covered by a residential building. In this case, the web navigation system adds an important contribution due to the limited real accessibility to the site. This work shows the framework for the construction of the web navigation system, where 3D surveys, digital reconstructions, 3D modeling, and web development are integrated. The choice of using an open-source technology for the web navigation system limits the costs of the process, and, at the same time, grants the web dissemination of site information. Full article

The Brazilian Legal Amazon region is divided into at least 155 ethnic groups and has the largest concentration of Indigenous people globally. It represents one of the most extraordinary levels of human, cultural, and artistic diversity, but its material culture is one of the least well-studied. This is especially true in technical art history and conservation science, largely due to (1) the limited international awareness of the richness of materials and techniques used by these Indigenous people and (2) the limitations of knowledge access for many scientists to literature usually published in Portuguese within social sciences and humanities. One result is that these arts are marginalized within technical art history, conservation, and conservation science. To address this knowledge gap, the authors explore 70 materials—among them pigments, dyes, binding media, and varnishes—used for paint production and coloring processes, including syntheses. The authors facilitate research possibilities within technical art history, conservation, and conservation science by presenting data from historical texts from the 18th and 19th centuries and more recent scientific literature. The work aims to build a more global, inclusive, and decentralized vision of art history and to create a more pluralistic narrative of Indigenous art history from South America. Full article

Many constructions built by ancient civilization hold many mysteries and attract the attention of historians, archaeologists and tourists from all over the world. The most famous and enigmatical among them is the Great (Khufu’s-Cheops’) Pyramid on the Giza plateau in Egypt. The assignment, construction methods and especially the inside structure of the Pyramid have been the cause of heated debate among historians and researchers since ancient times. Unfortunately, not only researchers are interested in ancient structures and excavation sites of archaeological values, but also robbers and illegal seekers of archaeological values. This led to the partial destruction of the Pyramid by the order of the Arab caliph Al-Ma’mun in the 9th century AD. From the middle of the last century, the point of view has prevailed that only non-destructive testing methods are acceptable when examining ancient structures. In the 1960s, a technology was proposed for transilluminating the pyramids of Giza by muons, which are generated by cosmic rays in the Earth’s atmosphere. This method gave promising results. Other means were also proposed, which include radar, as well as gravitational and vibration technologies. However, despite numerous attempts to use them, no significant success or discovery has been achieved. A discussion of these methods, their applications and partial successes is the subject of this article. Full article

The primary objective of this research is to address the research gap in the conservation of heritage buildings in Canada by integrating Historical Building Information Modeling (HBIM) as a tool. The proposed study aims to develop an enhanced framework for the preservation of historical buildings through the utilization of HBIM and 3D-scanning technology. As a result, the research aims to generate a comprehensive database comprising various families of models while also incorporating strategies for point-cloud clustering data. The significance of this research lies in its potential to contribute to the conservation and restoration process of historical buildings. Currently, there are a lack of standardized approaches and comprehensive databases for accurately documenting and reproducing historical buildings. By integrating HBIM and 3D-scanning technology, this research will enable the creation of highly accurate three-dimensional virtual models, consisting of millions of points, which will serve as a comprehensive dataset for the restoration of heritage buildings. The findings of this research will benefit multiple stakeholders. Preservation architects, conservationists, and heritage professionals will gain a valuable tool for documenting and analyzing historical buildings with a high level of precision. The comprehensive database and framework proposed in this study will facilitate decision-making processes during the restoration and preservation phases, ensuring that the original architectural elements and materials are faithfully reproduced. Additionally, policymakers and governmental organizations involved in heritage conservation can use the outcomes of this research to establish standardized guidelines and regulations for the preservation of historical buildings in Canada. Ultimately, the broader community will benefit from the enhanced preservation efforts, as it will contribute to the cultural and historical identity of the nation, fostering a sense of pride and connection to the past. Full article

This paper presents the path of knowledge developed for assessing the structural safety of the Norman-age Pisan Tower, which is mostly incorporated into the Royal Palace in Palermo, Italy. Historical, geomatic, and mechanical investigations were conducted and the most relevant results are herein collected and presented. The research path was addressed to specific tasks: identification of the building, geometric surveys, recognition of the sequence of phases of building transformation, detection of the components of the load-bearing structure, structural diagnostic surveys, and investigation of the subsoil and foundations. The explicit vulnerabilities found were mostly confined to the Piazzi library floor, while implicit vulnerabilities were identified in the presence of false walls and in high loads and fillings on the vaults of the last levels. The results of the analyses allowed the individuation of the confidence factors to use in structural analysis models aimed at the assessment of the seismic safety of the building. Full article

This paper aims to analyze the role of natural heritage cataloging when criminal events challenge natural history museums. This study investigates the rhino horn thefts in Italian natural history museums from 2011 to 2015 to provide a comprehensive framework for these robberies while highlighting the weaknesses and strengths to prevent thefts and safeguard both rhino horns and natural history collections from future targeting. Full article

The present work focuses on the solid modeling of the church of Santa Sofia in Benevento, Italy, and is related to a multidisciplinary research project that involved methods typical to both the humanities and mathematical engineering. Starting from the history of the church and its current configuration, a twofold objective is pursued: to give a brief account of the methodology used to analyze and virtualize the main phases of Santa Sofia and to report on the problem of modeling the church vault complex. Indeed, the 3D modeling of the church presented different levels of difficulty with some parts very easy to draw and others calling for specific geometrical analysis. In particular, to reconstruct the complex system of vaults of the church, a home-made code based on remapping Coons patches was written. The resulting 3D models of the different archeological and architectural phases of Santa Sofia are an example of virtual heritage and, being a digital content, allow for immediate sharing both to the scientific community and to a general and nonexpert audience, keeping in mind that knowledge is the means used to ensure the enhancement and preservation of cultural heritage. Full article

The aim of the research is to improve the public’s assessment and understanding of the cultural values and history of Bulgaria. The main issues related to the sustainable use of elements of the cultural heritage are defined, and the accessible literary sources related to the digitization of the folklore heritage are reviewed. Shape indices, color, and textural characteristics were obtained from digital color images of the elements of Bulgarian folk costumes. The most informative indices of these features were selected. A kernel variant of the principal component analysis (kPCA) method was used to reduce the data volume of the feature vector. A Naïve Bayes classifier, discriminant analysis, and the support vector method (SVM) were used for classification. The classification accuracy was assessed. In the analysis of the decorative elements of Bulgarian costumes, it was found that the accuracy of classification depended both on the method for reducing the volume of data and on the separability of the classes of data, depending on the classifier used. In the analysis of microscopic images of textile fabrics from Bulgarian costumes, it was found that the accuracy of classification for the studied objects depended both on the method for reducing the volume of data and on the used classifier. In the considered cases, a classification error below 10% was obtained using a non-linear kPCA kernel and SVM with a non-linear partition function. It was proven that the results of this development can be used in the creation of modern cross-stitch patterns, textile patterns, and clothing. The practical application of these research findings has the potential to benefit various stakeholders, including cultural heritage institutions, researchers, artisans, designers, and the general public, promoting a deeper appreciation and sustainable use of costume embroidery elements. Research can continue in the direction of the sustainable use and preservation of embroidery elements of Bulgarian costumes, enriching the understanding of cultural heritage and promoting appreciation for it in future generations. Full article

The documentation and management of the cultural heritage of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the heritage of the digital age are emerging discourses in cultural heritage management. The enthusiastic uptake of a generative artificial intelligence application (ChatGPT) by the general public and academics alike has provided an opportunity to explore (i) whether, and to what extent, generative AI can conceptualize an emergent, not well-described field of cultural heritage (the heritage of COVID-19), (ii), whether it can design an exhibition on the topic, and (iii) whether it can identify sites associated with the pandemic that may become significant heritage. Drawing on an extended ‘conversation’ with ChatGPT, this paper shows that generative AI is capable of not only developing a concept for an exhibition of the heritage of COVID-19 but also that it can provide a defensible array of exhibition topics as well as a relevant selection of exhibition objects. ChatGPT is also capable of making suggestions on the selection of cultural heritage sites associated with the pandemic, but these lack specificity. The discrepancy between ChatGPT’s responses to the exhibition concept and its responses regarding potential heritage sites suggests differential selection and access to the data that were used to train the model, with a seemingly heavy reliance on Wikipedia. The ‘conversation’ has shown that ChatGPT can serve as a brainstorming tool, but that a curator’s considered interpretation of the responses is still essential. Full article

The aim of the paper is to analyse the performance of the Neural Radiance Field (NeRF) algorithm, implemented in Instant-NGP software, for photogrammetric purposes. To achieve this aim, several datasets with different characteristics were analysed, taking into account object size, image acquisition technique and geometric configuration of the images. The NeRF algorithm proved to be effective in the construction of the 3D models; in other words, in Instant-NGP it was possible to obtain realistic 3D models in a detailed manner and very quickly, even in rather weak geometric configurations of the images. The performance obtained in the latter environment was compared with that achieved by two software packages, one widely used in the photogrammetric field, Agisoft Metashape, and one open source, Colmap. The comparison showed encouraging results in building 3D models, especially under weak geometry conditions; although, the geometric description of objects under point clouds or meshes needs improvement for use in the photogrammetric field. Full article

In this paper, a study is performed in order to achieve a process that successfully respects the colour integrity of photogrammetry models of cultural heritage pieces. As a crucial characteristic of cultural heritage documentation, the colour of the pieces—as a valuable source of information—needs to be properly handled and preserved, since digital tools may induce variations in its values, or lose them to a degree. Different conditions for image acquisition schemes, RGB value calculation, calibration and photogrammetry have been combined and the results measured, so the adequate procedure is found. Control over all colour transformations is enforced, with blending operations during the texture generation process being the only unpredictable step in the pipeline. It is demonstrated that an excellent degree of colour information preservation can be achieved when applying said control on the factors of acquisition and colour digitalization, inclusive deciding their parameters. This paper aims to serve as guidelines of a correct handling of colour information and workflow so cultural heritage documentation can be performed with the highest degree of colour fidelity, covering the gap of non-existing standard procedure or conditions to perform an optimum digital cultural heritage colour modelling. Full article

Recently, a notable change has occurred in how street art murals are perceived by art history and the general public, with a growing recognition of their social and cultural significance and a new focus on preserving the most representative modern urban murals for future generations. An interesting case study is constituted by the “UBUNTU” mural (Ivan Pontevia and Daniele Castagnetti, Reggio Emilia, 2018), whose appearance has radically changed in a few years. Indeed, the intense and direct exposure to sunlight as well as the environmental and polluting agents have induced the bleaching and fading of the original highly fluorescent hues. To investigate the degradation processes that are occurring, five micro-samples were collected from different fluorescent-coloured areas and analysed by a combined approach based on µ-Raman and Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Diode Array Detector and mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS), and Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS). The analytical protocol applied allowed us to disclose the painting materials used by the artist and fully characterise the ageing phenomena occurring in the mural that are possibly responsible for its colour ephemerality. Full article

Sensory experiences play a remarkable role in the visitor’s satisfaction and behavioral intention to return to a wine tourism unit, so it is important to frequently review the environment in which the experience is lived, to make it memorable. This study aimed to perform a comparative analysis of the perception of sensory experiences between the Abruzzo region in Italy and the Douro region in Portugal. This study also intended to understand the most important sensations sought by wine tourists in each region. A quantitative methodology was used, based on a questionnaire survey that analyses the perceptions of sensory experiences and some variables that characterize the profile of wine tourists. The sample consisted of 199 wine tourists who visited the wine tourism units of the aforementioned regions. The structural equation model results showed that sensory experiences were composed of five factors: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, and sensory experiences manifested with greater intensity in the hearing and smell factors. By comparing the results between the two regions, it can be concluded that smell is the most important factor for wine tourists who visit the Douro region, while for those who visit the Abruzzo region, it is the taste. The obtained results are important, in that they allow perceiving the differences in perception in sensory experiences, which has an impact on the management of companies in the two regions studied. This comparison between two wine regions in two different countries is pioneering work. Different wine regions have different attractiveness factors. Full article

The traditional Colombian vallenato was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO on 1 December 2015 with urgency for it to be safeguarded, which led the government of Colombia in the head of the Ministry of Culture and the vallenato music cluster to develop a safeguarding plan that contains different activities, among which stands out a platform for the management of vallenato through educational processes. In this sense, this document proposes an ontological model for the representation of vallenato as cultural heritage in a context-aware system called Vallenatic. The ontology was developed using the NeOn methodology, designed in the Protégé software, and has 15 concepts (Vallenata Songs, Artist, Devices, Persons, Environment, Cultural Managers, Interface, Location, MOOC, Learning Object, Profile, Preference, Net, Time Cultural, Event, Cultural_Sites). The model was evaluated by means of nine (9) situations described in natural language and SWRL; this language was used since it allows expressing OWL concepts in combination with RuleML. The proposed model can be used for other musical genres that have the recognition of cultural and intangible heritage, such as the Spanish flamenco, Argentine Tango, Mexican Mariachi music, Peruvian scissors dance, Brazilian capoeira, Dominican bachata, Jamaican reggae, among others. Full article

The ‘Tomb of the Philosophers’, owing its name to the iconographic theme depicted on the interior of its walls, offers a rare example of high-quality early Hellenistic painting, which enhances our knowledge on the use of painting materials and techniques in Greece during the late 4th–early 3rd century BC. The tomb was excavated in 2001 by the 17th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, in the area of the east cemetery of the ancient city of Pella and is among the largest built cist graves to have been found in the region to date. This article presents the results of a scientific investigation of the painting materials and techniques used in the tomb’s decoration by means of high-resolution visible- and raking-light imaging, broadband imaging (IRR, UIL, UVR, VIL), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and SEM-EDAX microanalysis on a representative number of samples. The examination of the paintings testifies to the application of elaborate painting techniques and to the use of a varied and rich chromatic ‘palette’ (iron oxides, Egyptian blue, malachite, conichalcite, cinnabar, lead white, carbon-based black, a purple organic colorant, yellow-orange arsenic and vanadium-based pigments). Furthermore, iconographic elements of the paintings were better visualized, allowing for a more accurate description and interpretation of the decorative program of the tomb. Full article

The use of digital models of cultural heritage objects obtained from 3D scanning or photogrammetry requires the development of strategies in order to optimise computational resources and enhance the user experience when they are used in interactive applications or virtual museums. Through a case study, this work compares an original photogrammetric model with its optimised version using traditional remeshing techniques and an improved version using Nanite technology, developed by Epic Games. A self-contained executable is created in Unreal^® 5.1 game engine to test the performance of the three models measured in frames per second (FPS). As a result, it was demonstrated that, although there is no substantial difference in the FPS rate, the Nanite technology avoids the need to perform the mesh and texture editing processes that lead to the construction of the optimised model. This saves considerable time and specialised effort, as the photogrammetric model can be converted to a Nanite object automatically. This would be a great advantage in the case of virtualisations of large collections of heritage objects, which is a common case in virtual museums. Full article