Pilot Case 1 – Paphos, Cyprus

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Pilot’s Context

The Tombs of the Kings is a 3rd-century BC Hellenistic necropolis carved out of solid rock located in Paphos, Cyprus. The site has held the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site status since 1980. 

Recognized for its exceptional historical value, the Tombs of the Kings (Tafoi ton Vasileon) served as the final resting place for Ptolemaic aristocrats and officials who lived in Paphos between the 3rd century BC and the 3rd century AD. The historic complex, which comprises eight well-preserved tombs, was meticulously unearthed through systematic excavations in 1977. Despite being looted and vandalized for hundreds of years, the necropolis maintains a powerful sense of pious reverie. 

The seven excavated tombs are scattered over a wide area, with the third tomb being the most impressive, featuring an open atrium below ground level surrounded by columns. Other tombs feature niches built into the walls where bodies were stored. While very few of the original frescoes survive today, fragments can still be seen alongside the enduring structures of the tombs, their columns, and porticos.

Main Goals

Holistic Preservation

Transition from traditional archaeological methods to modern technological frameworks to ensure the site’s preservation

Risk Monitoring

Utilize Earth Observation tools to track severe environmental and anthropogenic threats, including soil erosion, salinity, fires, tectonic activity, and urban expansion

Digital Twin Integration

Map generated risk indices onto digital twin models to visualize threat severity and assist in safeguarding decision-making

Toolkit Validation

Serve as a representative case study to test, evaluate, and validate EXCALIBUR’s innovative tools and methods in a real-world context

Navigate the Virtual Complex

EXCALIBUR Toolkits Utlized

TK 2: Risk mapping toolkit for tracking material degradation

Mapping risks and material degradation in heritage constructions

TK 4: Empowered Chatbot

Answering questions by querying a cultural heritage knowledge graph

TK 5: AI for Culutaral Heritage

AI solutions to semi-automate the digitisation, study, and conservation of cultural heritage

TK 6: Collaborative excavation XR diary in VR

An XR diary offering augmented reality for on-site archaeologists and virtual reality for remote curation

TK 8: Empowered toolkit for smart assistance in planning, safeguarding and decision making for CH

AI-empowered digital twin simulations to assist in planning, safeguarding, and decision-making

TK 9: Multimodal semantic data fusion

A domain-agnostic knowledge graph management system for multimodal semantic data fusion

TK 10: Interoperable human-centred platform to upload and update cultural assets

An interoperable, human-centred platform architecture for uploading and updating cultural assets

TK 11: Ethnographic storyliving experiences creator for virtual worlds

Creates immersive ethnographic storyliving experiences for virtual worlds

TK 12: Advanced digitisation toolkit

An advanced XR toolkit utilizing photogrammetry for digitising burial cultural heritagE

Involved Partners

ICOMOS (Pilot Case Leader)

Facilitates access to and domain knowledge for the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Tombs of the Kings complex.

ECOE

Provides AI solutions for cultural heritage (TK5) and empowered toolkits for smart assistance in planning and safeguarding (TK8).

IHU

Develops risk mapping for material degradation (TK2), AI solutions (TK5), and smart assistance for safeguarding (TK8).

LMU

Contributes an empowered CH chatbot (TK4), AI (TK5), collaborative XR diaries (TK6), safeguarding assistance (TK8), and storyliving tools (TK11).

ECOE

Provides AI solutions for cultural heritage (TK5) and empowered toolkits for smart assistance in planning and safeguarding (TK8).

CTL

Delivers multimodal semantic data fusion (TK9), an interoperable platform (TK10), AI tools (TK5), and ethnographic storyliving (TK11).

CERTH

Develops collaborative XR diaries (TK6), storyliving experiences (TK11), smart safeguarding assistance (TK8), and AI tools (TK5).

PIX4D

Supplies the advanced digitisation and interpretation XR toolkit (TK12) along with AI solutions for cultural heritage (TK5).

DUTH

Collaborates on creating ethnographic storyliving experiences for virtual worlds (TK11).

Visual Identity

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Visual Identity

I have been using their software for over a year, and it has transformed our marketing campaigns.

Digital Marketing

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