The Project

DEVELOPMENT OF Α PROTOTYPE FOR SMART VISUALIZATION OF INVISIBLE ANTIQUITIES

The project aims at the experimental development and implementation of an innovative system in real-time conditions, which will allow the enhanced presentation - visualization of invisible monuments and finds unearthed during archaeological excavations and subsequently covered. The antiquities may rest in backfilled trenches at an open archaeological site or covered by standing structures such as metro stations. Through the use of modern technology and tools, it will be possible for visitors of these sites to see the invisible antiquities on the screen of a portable device as they move and to sense the "cultural experience".

The combination of positioning technologies (GPS), augmented and virtual reality (AR / VR) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) will allow the visitor to observe and navigate archaeological structures, which are not visible today.

Project Work Packages (WP) and Deliverables (D)

D1.1: System Analysis / Design
D1.2: Data Standardization

D2.1.1: Available Data
D2.1.2: New Data
D2.2: Final Information
D2.3: Website and Social Media

D3.1.1: Security and data management unit
D3.1.2: GIS Server, spatial database and support interfaces
D3.2.1: Content Management System
D3.2.2: Augmented reality algorithms and interfaces
D3.2.3: Positioning system
D3.2.4: Application

D4.1: 1^st Evaluation
D4.2: Publications

D5.1: Results of corrective actions
D5.2: 2^nd evaluation
D5.3: Conference

D6.1: Results of corrective actions
D6.2: 3^rd evaluation
D6.3: Results of corrective actions
D6.4.1: Publications
D6.4.2: Workshop
D6.5: Business Plan and Commercial Operation Agreement

National Action:

Special Actions "Aquaculture" - "Industrial Materials" - "Open Innovation in Culture"

"COMPETITIVENESS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION" (EPAnEK)

Special Service for Management and Implementation of Actions in the fields of Research, Technological Development and Innovation

Project Code: Τ6ΥΒΠ-00023 (MIS 5056205)

Scientific Responsible and Coordinator of the project:

Dimitrios Kaimaris,
Associate Professor, School of Spatial Planning and Development
Faculty of Engineering
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Study Areas:

Archaeological site of Toumpa, Thessaloniki

The artificial hill, with a height of 23 m., located a few hundred meters north of the PAOK stadium, hidden today from the apartment buildings, used to dominate the entire city.

The Archaeological site as seen from the air (© Excavation of Toumpa Thessaloniki AUTh)

The hill was inhabited from 2000 to 300 BC., when it was abandoned due to the founding of Thessaloniki. During the Byzantine period part of the peak was used as a cemetery.

Burial of an adult from the cemetery of the Byzantine period at the top of the hill of Toumpa Thessaloniki (© Excavation of Toumpa Thessaloniki AUTh)

The research in the hill began in 1984 by the Department of Archeology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and continues to this day. The settlement was the largest settlement in the area of Thermaikos Gulf and in Macedonia during the late Bronze Age (ca. 1700-1000 BC). A second low and flat hill, which is not visible today, represented the expansion of the settlement around the hill from 1000 BC. until about 300 BC. The cemetery of this period spread further south. This newer settlement and the cemetery were excavated by the 16^th EPCA.

The height of the hill is due to the successive archaeological layers which include houses with brick walls and remnants of the various activities of the inhabitants and accumulated at the same place in the 1800 years of the site. Responsible for the formation of the hill was the habit of the inhabitants of the area during the Late Bronze Age to rebuild their new houses in the same place as their ancestors, building on the older brick walls without leveling. This process led to the raising of the level of habitation after each reconstruction and resulted in the creation of the high hill we see today.

View of the residential remains at the top of Toumpa Thessaloniki (© Excavation of Toumpa Thessaloniki AUTh)

The researches of AUTh have revealed at the highest points of the hill, parts of large, brick, rectangular houses. An imposing, earthen wall surrounded the lower settlement. The building was very dense and there were narrow streets between the houses.

Top view of the University excavation site of Toumpa Thessaloniki (© Excavation of Toumpa Thessaloniki AUTh)

The buildings retain a significant part of their equipment, offering rich evidence for the life and activities of the inhabitants, such as agriculture and animal husbandry, cooking and food consumption, winemaking, textiles, the production of "purple" paint, construction of artifacts made of copper, gold, stone, bone and other materials as well as information on product exchanges with regions of the Aegean and Europe. Finally, the habit of burying their dead in unstructured areas inside the settlement is interesting.

The fact that all the architectures that have been revealed are made of bricks, which have not been baked by chance or by any catastrophic fire, makes them extremely sensitive to atmospheric changes.

As to date no suitable material has been found internationally for the effective fastening, maintenance and protection of structures from raw bricks, such as those of Toumba, prevents the conversion of the site into a visitable archaeological site.

After discussions with conservation experts, the excavation has led to the decision to propose the excavation of the dugouts and the registration of the antiquities, where the research has been completed.

At the same time, given that the artificial hill itself is a very important monument of prehistory and the ancient history of the area before the founding of Thessaloniki, it is suggested that it be mildly turned into an archeological park where it is possible to visit the (buried) Remains of the prehistoric and ancient settlement that have been discovered so far with the help of modern digital technology.

In the framework of the Smart Eye program, the system of highlighting the covered antiquities will be tested in two areas of the university excavation of Toumpa Thessaloniki, in the area of building B and in the area of N. sector.

Residential remains from Building B at the top of the hill of Toumpa Thessaloniki (© Excavation of Toumpa Thessaloniki AUTh)

Residential remains from the northern sector of the excavation at the top of the hill of Toumpa Thessaloniki (© Excavation of Toumpa Thessaloniki AUTh)

Archaeological site of Thermi

The archeological site of Thermi is located within the city plan of the modern settlement and for this reason in the last 35 years many excavations have been carried out, both in private plots and in public places, due to the intense construction activity, but also due to many public works occurring in the area.

The habitation in the area of Thermi starts from the Neolithic period, in the middle of the 6th millennium BC and continues almost uninterruptedly to the modern era. The excavations have been carried out mainly by EATR.

The Neolithic period (5500-4000 BC)

The Neolithic settlement extends in the N / NE part of Thermi and is characterized as a flat and extensive settlement with shallow embankments, whose area reaches 100 acres. The constructions that have been revealed are mainly pits of various types and sizes and are interpreted as houses or auxiliary spaces. Many open, laboratory paved areas have also been identified. Apart from the various finds for the time, mainly ceramics of exceptional construction, the peeled stone carvings are remarkable, to the extent that it is considered that the settlement was a center of stone production that exceeded the local limits.

The Bronze Age 3000-1000 BC

During the Bronze Age, habitation was limited to a much smaller area and formed a mound on the eastern border of the Neolithic settlement. Investigated by L.Rey during World War I. It was then found that the mound was artificial and was created by successive residential embankments that date back to the Bronze Age, while there were also findings related to some later periods.

Historical times

Sporadic finds indicate that there was habitation during the Iron Age (9th-7th century BC), such as the python found next to the base of Toumba, on Karaoli Street, but also building remains in the adjacent Bank, known as Sedes Bank, where the residence was subsequently transferred. ISTEPEKA carried out searches at the Bank, where remains of the archaic and classical settlement were found, while it seems that during the Hellenistic years the housing was transferred outside the Bank (relics on Antipa and Irini streets).

Also important is the very extensive and long-lasting cemetery, of which about 6000 tombs were excavated. Its main volume is located to the west of the Bank, below the modern settlement. Covers a period from the 8th BC. ai. until the 1st AD ai. The abundance of rich burial finds demonstrates the important position occupied by the settlement in antiquity and may be identified with the ancient Thermi, whose location is still the subject of scientific research. However, burials from different eras are scattered in the eastern part of the modern settlement, while a rich cemetery of the late Roman period was recently located on Karaoli and Dimitriou streets.

Remains of the Byzantine and post-Byzantine period have also been found recently.