VirtualArch

The planned activities are:

- case study analysis and research: each partner has its own research and valorisation projects for one or more key sites. For the Soprintendenza this is a project to map, study and valorise the mining sites in the Argentario/Calisio area (medieval and modern silver mines). The main part of the project includes enhancement of the mining sites with the creation of routes, 3D reconstruction of a mine and multimedia content for the public's enjoyment of the mining area;

- an essential part of the project and of the discussion between partners (almost all of whom are heritage protection and conservation bodies) concerns the protection of buried archaeological sites, i.e. the implementation of methodologies and strategies to protect the assets and at the same time bring them to life in the area as a resource and no longer just as a burden;

- organisation of conferences for local stakeholders (administrations concerned, owners, farmers in sensitive areas, etc.);

- organisation of internal project meetings to compare partners' experiences on valorisation and methodologies to be applied for the use of buried archaeological heritage.

The VirtualArch project aims to promote the protection and enhancement of archaeological heritage that is not visible or little known, in particular buried, underground or submerged contexts such as pile-dwellings, mines, ancient port sites, etc.

In order to achieve this objective, the project aims to involve public actors working in the field of archaeological heritage protection, aiming to increase their capacity to present the value of archaeological evidence through the introduction of innovative approaches in the field of information communication technologies, virtual reality and visualisation. These new ways of valorising buried archaeological heritage are intended to act as a stimulus for job creation in new enterprises and more generally for socio-economic growth on a regional scale.