2015 AAAS Annual Meeting (12-16 February 2015)

February 12 - 16, 2015

Radiography of the Past: Revealing the Invisible at Archaeological Sites

The ruins of the Roman city of Ammaia lie in the Nature Park of the Serra de São Mamede in central Portugal. The city has been brought to life once again by an international and intersectoral consortium of researchers who have produced a 3D re-creation of the ancient city of Ammaia using a nondestructive archaeological approach. An innovative combination of methodologies in imaging and field research are being employed, specifically geo-archaeological surveying, archaeological remote sensing, refining geographic information system (GIS) applications to cityscape archaeology and automated data acquisition process. In the process, researchers developed a valuable technique to undertake archaeological research without a destructive effect on the surrounding environment. The practices developed will have a major impact in the field of cultural heritage by allowing the study, safeguard, and valorization of archaeological sites previously unachievable because of modern architectural or environmental constraints. The session will describe the research approach and take the audience on a virtual tour of the reconstructed city.