Articles by Giacomo Mancuso

This article presents the transformation of DHeLO (Digital Heritage Landscaping Platform) from a relational database into a Linked Open Data (LOD) infrastructure, designed to enhance the discoverability, interoperability, and reuse of digital resources within Cultural Heritage (CH), Heritage Science (HS), and Digital Archaeology (DA) research. Initially conceived within the H2IOSC project as a virtual observatory for cataloguing digital products, tools, and research projects, DHeLO has been restructured as a service-oriented system in response to emerging community needs and a broader reflection on its role. The transition was guided by insights gained from landscaping activities conducted within Work Package 2, including questionnaires and interviews with members of the DH, DA, and HS communities. The new configuration of DHeLO integrates metadata on research outputs, projects, people, and bibliographic references, laying the foundation for a knowledge graph that mirrors the research landscape. A key step in this evolution was the adoption of Omeka S as the core platform, chosen for its modularity, semantic interoperability, and synergy with Zotero, which supports the integration of the BiDiAr bibliographic database. In this form DHeLO aspires to become an active research resource, moving beyond mere monitoring to foster exploratory analysis and linked knowledge networks.

The Open Digital Archaeology Hub (ArchaeoHub) is a modular and extensible platform developed within the H2IOSC project to support the aggregation and dissemination of digital archaeological resources. Conceived as a metadata aggregator rather than a repository, it integrates textual, visual, and bibliographic data from diverse sources, including the journal «Archeologia e Calcolatori» the BiDiAr bibliographic platform, and the DHeLO web app. Its structure is based on a hub-and-spoke model, designed to enable thematic collections organised around geographic entities, using Pleiades identifiers and WebGIS technologies to enhance discovery and contextualization. ArchaeoHub promotes interoperability through standards such as RDF, Dublin Core, and JSON-LD, and supports linked data connections with external resources. It offers scholars and institutions a lightweight, FAIR-compliant environment to access and cross-reference data. A key feature is its integration with BiDiAr, a curated bibliography of digital archaeology structured through Zotero, enabling citation tracking and semantic classification. The platform exemplifies a shift from static repositories to dynamic, research-oriented infrastructures aligned with national and international best practices. Positioned within the broader landscape of digital heritage infrastructures, ArchaeoHub serves as both a scholarly resource and a methodological prototype for managing complex00 archaeological information in a collaborative, open-access framework.

This paper explores the initial outcomes of the H2IOSC Project, specifically within Work Package 2 (WP2 - Landscaping & Building Communities), which aims to survey the Italian digital landscape in Language Technologies, Humanities, and Heritage Science (HS). A significant outcome of the efforts of the Rome branch of CNR-ISPC is the development of two key resources: the DHeLO web app and the BiDiAr bibliographic collection. DHeLO (Digital Heritage Landscaping Platform) is designed to collect, store, and query metadata of research projects, products, and digital tools in Cultural Heritage (CH) and Heritage Science (HS). It aims to create a comprehensive disciplinary observatory by integrating data from multiple sources into a structured system that allows for complex queries and data indexing. This platform supports the FAIR principles (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) and includes metadata standards based on the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI). BiDiAr (Bibliography of Digital Archaeology) functions as a relational database within Zotero, an open-source bibliographic tool. It compiles bibliographic entries relevant to digital archaeology, integrating themes and research outputs from the 'Archeologia e Calcolatori' journal. This database aids in thematic trend analysis and network analysis by linking bibliographic citations, enhancing the understanding of research dynamics and impacts within the E-RIHS community. Analyzing these resources reveals an exponential increase in virtual reality and 3D modeling products, driven by epistemological developments and the disruptive use of photogrammetric modeling. These tools not only enhance data accessibility and usability but also support interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in digital heritage and archaeology.

The article systematically explores two processes of virtual reconstruction of archaeological contexts: ArchaeoBIM and Extended Matrix. The focus is on the theoretical frameworks behind their development, the proposed operational processes, and the products derived from both methodologies. The informative potential of the virtual models resulting from these reconstruction processes will be discussed, as well as the application-related issues. A substantial part of the article will be dedicated to the development of an integrative protocol aimed at incorporating the informational structure of the Extended Matrix within an ArchaeoBIM model. The process has been applied to the case study of House 1 in Regio IV, Insula 2 of the Etruscan city of Marzabotto, which was excavated in recent years (1988-1998) and thoroughly documented. Final considerations are then directed towards future development prospects and the integration of this virtual product within a Geographic Information System.

In this paper we will briefly discuss the evolution of the solutions that the Chair of Etruscology of the Bologna University applied to the topographic survey of the archaeological excavation in the Etruscan city of Marzabotto (BO). The operational choices, the instruments and the software used in the latest excavation fields will be presented here. We will then illustrate the applied experimental workflow and its possible further development in order to take full advantage of the possibilities and benefits offered by the 3D survey techniques.

The paper aims to explain the analytical method used to virtually recreate the houses of the Etruscan city of Marzabotto. As stated in the title, the starting point of the process was the analysis conducted on the tangible archaeological evidence of building materials; these latter were fully integrated with data provided by the ancient sources and the latest technology. Next, the problems and the solutions adopted in order to recreate the houses are presented. In the last section the criteria used for the visual restitution of the unexcavated context of the ancient city are explained.