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Digital Archaeology at Pompeii; Our Contribution to the Historical Record

Since Pompeii was unearthed, expert and popular perception of Pompeii has reflected the times, and the documentary norms of each era are reflected in our recorded knowledge. Historical efforts at preservation and reconstruction have also left their mark on the site itself. As society proceeds further into the digital age, it is important that we understand our own point of view and decide how we want to contribute to the historical record. Digital imaging gives us another way to preserve the source evidence and to present interpretations of it. The unusual concentration of interest on Pompeii has resulted in a diversity of technical and scholarly approaches applied to a small area. This grants us a unique position from which to understand and develop the role of digital technology in archaeology and related fields.

Each panelist will describe their work and the issues above for four to five minutes. We will then have five minutes for panelists’ final comments, leaving 50 minutes for discussion with the audience. The panelists are:

  • John Wallrodt, Senior Research Associate, Department of Classics, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 513-556-2584 for the Pompeii Archaeological Research Project: Porta Stabia (http://classics.uc.edu/pompeii/).
  • Albert Ribera, Doctor of Archaeology, in charge of the Archaeological Department of Valencia, City Hall, Spain. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 658159889. Director and lead author of the "Casa di Arianna" and "Via degli Augustalis" Projects at Pompeii (2004-2009). Leads investigations of Roman Valentia and the Arianna's House, 1999 to the present.
  • José M. Luzón, Professor of Classical Archaeology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Director of the House of the Archaizing Diana project at Pompei (Insula VII,6,3). Using scanned data to reconstruct the villa destroyed in WWII.
  • Jeffrey Jacobson, Director of PublicVR (http://publicvr.org), Boston, MA, USA. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 617-435-0517 Director of Virtual Theater District project. Dr. Jacobson will discuss how representation of knowledge shapes understanding.
  • Ethan Gruber, Researcher and 3D Modeler, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Gruber is the computer modeler for the Pompeii Forum Project and contributes experience in 3D modeling and lighting. (http://pompeii.virginia.edu).
  • David Frederick, Associate Professor, Classical Studies, Director of Humanities, University of Arkansas, AR, USA This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 479-575-6776 http://pompeii.uark.edu Director of the Digital Pompeii Project, centered on a searchable, navigable model of artwork in Pompeii.
  • Steven Ellis, Assistant Professor of Classics, Department of Classics, University of Cincinnati, OH, USA This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 513-206-5729 Director of the Pompeii Archaeological Research Project: Porta Stabia (http://classics.uc.edu/pompeii/)
  • John J. Dobbins, Professor of Classical Art & Archaeology, McIntire Department of Art, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 434-924-6128 Director of  the Pompeii Forum Project  (http://pompeii.virginia.edu). He and Ethan Gruber will employ computer models to present and test hypotheses of the Macellum’s reconstruction.  
  • Michael Anderson, Assistant Professor of Classics, Department of Classics, San Francisco State University, USA This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 415-338-3071. Director of the Via Consolare Project, which undertakes  excavation, digital  recording  and 3-D  reconstruction  in Pompeii.   Open-source  and freeware technologies.