Agenda

Maurizio Forte (Duke University)
"Principles of Cyberarchaeology"

Maurizio Forte, PhD, is William and Sue Gross distinguished Professor of Classical StudiesArt, Art History, and Visual Studies, Bass Chair and Director and founder of the DIG@Labat Duke University. His main research topics are:, classical archaeology,digital archaeologyand neuro-archaeology. He was professor of World Heritage at the University of California, Merced, (School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts)and Director of the Virtual Heritage Lab. He was Chief of Research at CNR (Italian National Research Council) of “Virtual Heritage: integrated digital technologies for knowledge and communication of cultural heritage through virtual reality systems”. He received his bachelor’s degree in Ancient History (archaeology), and a Diploma of specialization in Archaeology, from the University of Bologna, and his PhD in Archaeology from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”.  He has coordinated archaeological fieldwork and research projects in Italy as well as Ethiopia, Egypt, Syria, Kazakhstan, Peru, China, Oman, India, Honduras, Turkey, USA and Mexico.  Since 2014 he is director of the Vulci 3000 Project. He is editor and author of several books including “Virtual Archaeology” (1996), Virtual Reality in Archaeology (2000), “From Space to Place” (2006), “Cyberarchaeology (2012), Digital Methods and Remote Sensing in Archaeology, Digital CitiesbetweenHistory and Archaeology and he has written more than 200 scientific papers.

Abstract:
Cyber-Archaeology is a branch of archaeological research concerned with the digital simulation and investigation of the potential past. The term recalls the ecological cybernetics approach based on the informative modeling of the organism-environment relationships. More specifically, it aims to investigate the past through the interaction with multimodal simulation models of archaeological datasets in different areas of knowledge. The cognitive-interpretive process is accomplished through an interaction-feedback loop in a virtual reality environment, following a non-linear learning path. This process allows for the formation and validation of scientific theories about archaeological contexts and material cultures.
Cyberarchaeology has actually revolutionized modern archaeology throughout the use of massive digital recording, virtual simulation, data curation and digital transmission. This work can be seen at the intersection between empiricism and simulation. Empiricism by developing tools for data capture and autoptic evaluation in the field, simulation in relation to data processing and modeling in labs and virtual environments. Along with the functionality of VR to enable unique ways to integrate spatial maps and VR renderings through a series of virtual models, a second functionality deals with the ability to find relationality between many different digital media artifacts. Here contemporary search mechanisms and annotation methods enable new forms of interactive juxtaposition of diverse media elements in virtual domains. Therefore. interpretation in cyberarchaeology is characterized by multivocality, collaborative work, networking, new digital media and open digital narratives; it is a fluid and open process. What shall archaeologists do with these kind and amount of data? How can we deal with this hyper-accuracy? What beyond a 3D model? How can we codify and transmit this knowledge to the future? 

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