Reviving Aquileia's late antique walls: A comprehensive Extended Matrix workflow case study

Abstract

This contribution aims to provide an overview of a virtual reconstruction case study, focusing on the late antique walls of Aquileia M2, applying the Extended Matrix methodology and its associated workflow. Specifically, we will consider virtual reconstructions in archaeological practice and address their scientific challenges. The report will address the issue of their scientific mapping, briefly touching on existing methods before delving into the details of the Extended Matrix, the chosen methodology for the project. The theoretical foundations and open-source computer tools enabling its comprehensive application will be described. Finally, the focus will be on an illustrative case study of the complete workflow: reconstructing a portion of Aquileia's defensive wall, M2. Following essential historical-archaeological contextualization, the research results leading to the reconstruction hypothesis will be presented, along with some steps to achieve the final model, its visualization through a web app, and potential future development scenarios.