Articles by Stefano Finocchi

The paper presents the initial results of a recent project focused on one of the necropolises, known as ‘I Pini’, related to the pre-Roman settlement of Numana/Sirolo (Ancona, Marche Region). Specifically, it focuses on the re-contextualization of archival data from excavations carried out in the last century and on the integration of various geophysical survey methods, implemented with a synergistic approach both within and outside the now-musealized archaeological area. These operations, aimed at resuming archaeological investigations of the necropolis and achieving a more precise topographical framework, have shed new light on the context, revealing new information regarding previous investigations and contributing to the definition of a more targeted excavation strategy. The extension of non-invasive surveys beyond the area already subject to excavation has also revealed new significant archaeological features pertaining to the necropolis itself, redefining its boundaries and providing new insights into its internal layout.

The paper presents a workflow aimed at documenting, disseminating, and making archaeological heritage more accessible. To preserve scientific rigour and data accuracy, also providing an emotional experience to the audience, the entire process was carried out through the collaborative efforts of three professionals: the archaeologist, the digitization expert, and the entertainment industry professional. The case study is a pre-Roman necropolis located in the “I Pini” archaeological area (Marche Region, Italy). The site presents several circular burials, one of which belongs to a female figure known as the “Queen”, which became the central focus of the narrative. The first working step was the digital documentation of a selection of the findings from the “Queen’s” tomb, currently displayed at the Antiquarium Statale of Numana, followed by the virtual reconstruction of the burial. Then, the obtained 3D models were used to generate a Virtual Immersive Movie (VIM) which allows visitors to immerse themselves in the virtual reconstruction and interact with the archaeological findings using a Head-mounted Display. The evaluation of the user experience proved the effectiveness of the VIM. The scores obtained from the questionnaire will also serve as inspiration for further enhancements, aiming to deliver a more interactive and improved educational experience.