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1st Regional STACHEM Workshop on Infrastructures for Digitisation in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage in the Eastern Mediterranean
9:30-10:00 Registration
10:00 Welcome Address
Rossella Caffo (coordinator of the STACHEM work package on
Digital Heritage, MiBAC)
Franco Niccolucci (STACHEM
coordinator, STARC - Cyprus Institute) Presentation
Kirsi O. Lorentz (STACHEM scientific coordinator, STARC -
Cyprus Institute)Overview of STACHEM project Presentation
Marzia Piccininno (MiBAC) Overview of STACHEM work
package on Digital Heritage Presentation
Marta Cardillo (MiBAC)
The Survey on the Competence Centers in Eastern Mediterranean Presentation
11:00-13:00 Chair Maria Teresa Natale (MiBAC)
Greece Nestor C. Tsirliganis - George Pavlidis (Cultural and Educational Technology Institute, CETI)
The Cultural Heritage in the Digital Era: New Tools for the Investigation, Documentation, Preservation and Dissemination of the Cultural Past (PDF, 4347 kb)
Abstract: The advent of digital technologies has opened new horizons in the human contact and exploration of the cultural reserve. A multitude of instruments from the common digital photographic camera to the most advanced and exotic imaging and 3D digitization devices, in combination with simple or intricate software algorithms, databases, geographical information systems, and multimedia and web applications offer today new investigation and documentation possibilities for the thorough and deeper understanding and interpretation of the cultural past. They assist in the assessment of the present state of this Heritage, provide for its management, and support the application of modern technologies for its preservation while offering innovative and alternative ways to ensure its future presence and global accessibility. The Cultural and Educational Technology Institute was founded in 1998, aiming to promote the research in these technologies and exploit their capacity for applications in culture and education.
Israel Susan Hazan (Curator of New Media and Head of the Internet Office, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem)
Educational, entertaining and experiential: making archaeological collections available online for all (PDF, 13215 kb)
Italy Maria Letizia Mancinelli - Antonella Negri (Archaeological Heritage Service, ICCD-MiBAC)
The Catalogue General Information System: tools and strategies for knowledge acquisition and management of archaeological heritage (PDF of the text, 26 kb, PDF of the slides, 6500 kb)
Abstract: The Central Institute for Cataloguing and Documentation is a body that deals with Italian cultural heritage cataloguing activities and it’s responsible for the General Catalogue Information System (SIGEC), made for managing through the Web, the acquisition, management and dissemination process of the heritage knowledge data. In particular, there are specific applications that allows the interoperability of alphanumeric, geographical and multimedia information. These tools allow to highlight relations between different typology of cultural heritage and territory. This kind of methodological and working approach is much more valid and useful for archaeological heritage, that needs to be contextualized in historical and territorial background.
Jordan Talal Akasheh (CULTECH)
3D Documentation and Thermography at the Djin Block no. 9 in Petra, Jordan (PDF, 1113 kb)
Abstract: A combination of 3D scanning, Photogrammetry and Thermal imaging was used to assess the weathering condition of Djin Block No. 9. Non destructive in situ XRF analysis confirms the general results obtained by those techniques.
Lebanon Børre Ludvigsen (Digital Documentation Center at American University of Beirut)
Sustainability, accessibility and cost-benefit tradeoffs in digital archiving
Abstract: The mission of the Digital Documentation Center at the American University of Beirut is digitizing scholarly materials in order to make them accessible for scholars and students through the Internet and for digital archival. This presentation gives a brief introduction to the scope of the work done by the DDC since it was established in 1997 and discusses some of the considerations put into ensuring long term sustainability and accessibility of content, some of the techniques used and the cost-benefit tradeoffs involved in its viability.
13:00-14:00 Lunch Break
14:00-16:00 Chair Marzia Piccininno (MiBAC)
Egypt Aisha El Ghazzawy (CULTNAT)
The Center for Documentation of Natural and Cultural Heritage (PDF, 10741 kb)
Abstract: Egypt's Heritage is of a worldwide interest and importance due to its continuity over a period of more than five thousand years. Cultnat’s mandate is to document the various aspects of Egypt's tangible and intangible cultural heritage as well as its natural heritage. The presentation will give a brief description of two of Culnat’s programs the Archaeological Map of Egypt and Eternal Egypt. The Archaeological Map of Egypt program employs the multi-media in conjunction with GIS technologies to produce a powerful
documentation and management tool for Egypt’s archaeological sites. Eternal Egypt program developed and is continuously updating and maintaining a premier website to showcase a selection of Egypt’s treasures and cultural heritage using the state-of-the-art technologies.
Turkey Numan Tuna (Middle East Technical University - Centre for Research and Assessment of Historic Environment, METU-TAÇDAM)
Creating digital database for archaeological heritage management in Turkey, TAÇDAM Projects as a case study (PDF, 937 kb)
Abstract: The establishment of archaeological database studies in Turkey goes back to early 1960¹s since the joint project launched by the University of Chicago and Istanbul University for the documentation of the inundated areas of dam construction projects in Southeast Turkey. Turkish Ministry of Culture and Turkish Academy of Sciences developed to establish a general standard for core database of cultural heritage with limited success by 2001. However, a standard format and field record had been designed for the field studies to be used in archaeological heritage assessment in digital sense for the first time as a requirement of Baku-Tbilðsi-Ceyhan Crude Oil Pipeline Project (BTC P/L Project), Ilisu Dam Construction Project and several other projects by TAÇDAM.
Malta Cedric Farrugia (AcrossLimits)
Digitization the Malta experience (PDF of the PPT, 19 kb) (PDF of the text, 59 kb)
Abstract: Malta, although small in size, has a very rich history that dates back centuries. The accession into the EU has enhanced the digitization process of cultural heritage both at a national level and at a local level. Participation in various projects has raised awareness amongst public and private organization on the importance of the digitization
of culture. The presentation will focus on the progress made in digitization since becoming an EU member state.
Cyprus Chrysanthi Kounnou (Department of
Antiquities, DoA)
Digitization Programmes of the Department of
Antiquities, Cyprus (PDF, 3440 kb)
Abstract: The Department of Antiquities is currently involved in two main digitization projects: «Cyprus Archaeological Digitization Programme» and
«Τhe artifacts of the Enkomi Tombs (British Excavations) in Cyprus: Digitization
Programme». The speech will analyze those works.
OPEN DISCUSSION and CONCLUSION
16:30 END OF THE WORKSHOP
Saturday 21th November morning
Visit and guided tour to the Archaeological
Museum and Excavations of Paestum
Scientific Committee
Rossella Caffo (MiBAC)
Franco
Niccolucci (STARC, CyI), Chair of the Scientific Committee
Kirsi Lorentz
(STARC, CyI), Scientific Coordinator for STACHEM
Marta Cardillo
(MiBAC)
Maria Teresa Natale (MiBAC)
Marzia Piccininno (MiBAC)
Organisation Secretariat
Alessandra Stella
(MiBAC)
Sara Moretto (MiBAC)
Speaker’s biographies
Dr Nestor C. Tsirliganis received his Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from the Aristotle
University of Thessaloniki (Greece) in 1986 and continued his studies at The
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (U.S.A.) from where he received a Master’s
Degree in Nuclear Science in 1987 and a Ph.D. Degree in the same field in 1995.
In 1999 he took the position of the Head of the Archaeometry Department at the
Cultural and Educational Technology Institute (C.E.T.I.) in Xanthi (Greece),
position that holds (since 2007 as Research Director) till presently. His
present research interests include the applications of nuclear science and new
technologies in Archaeometry and in the study, interpretation and dissemination
of the Cultural Heritage.
Dr George Pavlidis received his Diploma Degree in Electrical Engineering from the
Democritus University of Thrace (Xanthi, Greece) in 1995. He received his PhD
degree from the same University, working in the field of digital image
processing, earning the distinction of the Ericsson Awards of Excellence in
2005. In 2002 he joined the Cultural and Educational Technology Institute as a
special technical scientist in the Multimedia Sector. As of 2006 Dr. Pavlidis is
a Researcher at CETI. He is the head of the Multimedia Department and an adjunct
lecturer at the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering and
Architectural Engineering of the Democritus University of Thrace. His current
research interests involve technologies for analysis, segmentation, compression,
transmission and semantic description of digital 2D/3D images as well as
multimedia technologies, production of multimedia applications, interactive 3D
representations, 3D-GIS and virtual reality.
Dr. Susan Hazan is currently
Curator of New Media and Head of the Internet Office at the Israel Museum,
Jerusalem (since 1992), identifying, and implementing electronic architectures
for the gallery, and outreach programs (http://www.imj.org.il ). Her Masters and PhD at
Goldsmiths College, University of London in Media and Communications focused on
electronic architectures in the contemporary museum. Hazan has been recognized
for her numerous publications on new media in education, art, museums and
cultural heritage. In 2002-2003 Hazan was visiting lecturer at the Computing
Department at Goldsmiths, University of London; teaching Web Design and Critical
E-Museology, with an emphasis on the correlation between cultural theory and
contemporary practice, and is an annual guest lecture in the Museology
Department at Haifa University, Israel (2005-2009). http://www.musesphere.com/about/Susan.Hazan.html
.
Maria Letizia Mancinelli works as archaeologist at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage
and Activities - Central Institute for Cataloguing and Documentation –
Archaeological Heritage Service. She wrote several papers in scientific reviews,
congress proceedings and seminars, dealing with her own specific sector as well
with others institution activities. These activities concern research,
definition, experimentation, and diffusion of cataloguing and georeferented
cultural heritage tools and methods; collaboration with the didactic area of
ICCD; the participation in the ICCD General Cataloguing Information System
(SIGEC) working group.
Antonella Negri, graduated in
Architecture and specialised in Monument Restoration, worked from 2005 as
architect for the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, Regional
Directorate for Cultural and Landscape Heritage of Tuscany. Since 2007, she
works at the Central Institute for Cataloguing and Documentation. She is also a
GIS expert.
Prof. Talal Akasheh holds a
PhD in Physical Chemistry. Originally he was specialized in Photochemistry and
Photophysics where he has several publications in this area. However he was
attracted by the site of Petra in the South Jordan and was converted to the
study of the weathering phenomenon that threatens the monuments. He did lot or
research on weathering of monuments, and Nabataean painted ceramics While still
being affiliated to the Hashemite university where he established Queen Rania
Institute for Tourism and Heritage, he is currently on special leave and
established CulTech for Archaeology and Conservation, an NGO dealing with
Cultural Heritage and its protection. His major work was on the design and
implementation of a database and GIS system for Petra monuments, which won him
the International Rolex Award for Enterprise in 2008. Website cultech.org
Børre Ludvigsen has been
visiting professor and consultant to the Digital Documentation Center at the
American University of Beirut since 1997, when he helped establish the center.
Professor Ludvigsen manages projects for the DDC on a yearly basis, working at
AUB in a 20% capacity. The DDC is a collaborate project between AUB and the Al
Mashriq website of Østfold University College in Halden, Norway where Børre
Ludvigsen has tenure as professor of information architecture.
Aisha El Ghazzawy
received her Bachelor Degree in Egyptology from the American University
in Cairo. She is currently working as the Head of the Pharaonic Heritage Unit at
the Center for the Documentation of the Cultural and Natural Heritage (Cultnat).
She is responsible for the content of the Archaeological Map of Egypt's Program,
which covers all the archaeological sites of Egypt. She is also responsible for
part of the content of the archaeological themes of Cultnat’s Culturama
including the display of Dendara Temple, Opet Festival, Edfu Temple and Kom Ombo
Temple. (CULTURAMA is an innovative panoramic interactive display of cultural
heritage content on 9 screens using 9 projectors and one single computer)
Numan Tuna is Professor of
Settlement Archaeology Program and Director of Centre for Research and
Assessment of the Historic Environment (TAÇDAM) at the Middle East Technical
University, Ankara. Since 1980 he has been directing a number of archaeological
research projects at the classical sites in Turkey. Born in Izmir, 1948.
Research interests: Cultural heritage management, settlement archaeology
Cedric Farrugia is a
graduate in Communication Studies and Contemporary Mediterranean Studies from
the University of Malta. He carries work on different projects related to
Digitization of Culture and Digital Libraries in Malta. Amongst such projects
one finds, ENTITLE, EuropeanaLocal and I’m Your Guide. Research interest:
Digitization of Popular Culture including music, folklore, visual arts and local
history.
Chrysanthi Kounnou, M.A
(Department of Antiquities, Cyprus) has studied Archaeology and History of Art
at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and acquired a MA in
Artefact Studies from the Institute of Archaeology, University College London.
Since 2007, as a member of the Department of Antiquities, she has directed
rescue excavations mostly within the old town of Nicosia, among them the rescue
excavation in D’Avilla bastion, as well as in the Larnaka district. She is
currently involved with the implementation of «Cyprus Archaeological
Digitization Programme»
Further information to the above STACHEM event may also be found here.
