From Earth to Interface: Towards a 3D Semantic Virtual Stratigraphy of the Funerary Ara of Ofilius Ianuarius from the Via Appia Antica 39 Burial Complex
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Building 4 and the Funerary Ara of Ofilius Ianuarius
D(is) M(anibus) |
C(aius) Ofilius Ianuari/ |
us se vivus fec(it) |
sibi et suis et |
5 libert(is) liberta/ |
busque poste/ |
risque |
eorum |
2.2. The Discovery of the Lid
2.3. Publishing 3D Excavation Data Online
2.4. Re-Constructing the Stratigraphic Context in 3D
2.5. Methodology
- A drone-based survey prior to the start of the excavation, primarily intended to document the condition of the site and to produce key 2D orthoimages for use during excavation activities.
- Integrated surveys, both terrestrial and drone-based, conducted during the excavation, with a complete site acquisition performed at the end of the excavation period. These surveys aimed to document the subjects at higher resolution, enabling the creation of reusable 3D models.
2.5.1. Option 1. Stratigraphic Modelling with EM Tools and EMviq
2.5.2. Option 2. Ontological Modelling, CRMArcheo Annotation Tool and ATON
3. Results
4. Conclusions
At the best, excavation is destruction and destruction unmitigated by all the resources of contemporary knowledge and accumulated experience cannot be too rigorously impugned [51]
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
1 | ABAP DD 679,31/05/2022. “Appia Antica 39” is an interdisciplinary project directed by Prof. Rachele Dubbini for the University of Ferrara. The archaeological excavation has been directed by Dr. Fabio Turchetta, “Ditta ARCHEO, Archeologia e tecnologie”. For more information on the project see [1], also https://linktr.ee/appiantica39, accessed on 15 June 2025. |
2 | The closest funerary monument to the Appian Way, Building 3, is located at a distance of 6.44 m from it. |
3 | From the second half of the 2nd century B.C. until at least the early Augustan age, a fairly constant presence of funerary enclosures associated with monumenta of the most varied architectural ranges is documented in many Roman cities [4]. |
4 | The stratigraphic analysis of the buildings, as well as the study of the materials that emerged from the excavation, is still to be considered at an entirely embryonic stage. The dating proposed for the abandonment of the funerary buildings is based on a preliminary analysis of the materials found in the obliterations of the buildings. We refer to a more advanced phase of the study of the finds to provide more detailed archaeological, stratigraphic and bibliographical references. |
5 | Both inhumation and cremation rites are present, and each displays notable integrity, offering valuable insights into the cultural and ritual dynamics of the site. The study of the anthropological findings was entrusted to Dr. Jessica Mongillo of the University of Ferrara’s “AnthropoLab”, directed by Prof. Barbara Bramanti, and is still ongoing. |
6 | This dating is further confirmed by a brick stamp from Building 1, which is still in situ and can be dated to AD 123 [6]. The study of the brick stamps and inscriptions from the excavation was entrusted to Prof. Giulia De Palma of the Université Paris Nanterre, and is still ongoing. |
7 | The find was promptly handed over to the authorities of the Parco Archeologico dell’Appia Antica and is currently on display at the museum of Santa Maria Nova. |
8 | A more in depth epigraphic analysis will be the subject of a future publication dedicated to the whole epigraphic material coming from the site and entrusted to Prof. G. De Palma. |
9 | Since both stratigraphies and materials are currently under study, they will be discussed in depth in specific publications. |
10 | https://www.extendedmatrix.org/em-framework/emtools, accessed on 10 June 2025. |
11 | https://www.blender.org/, accessed on 10 June 2025. |
12 | https://www.yworks.com/, 10 June 2025. |
13 | https://github.com/pyarchinit/pyarchinit, accessed on 10 June 2025. |
14 | https://qgis.org/, accessed on 10 June 2025. |
15 | https://github.com/zalmoxes-laran/3D-survey-collection?tab=readme-ov-file, accessed on 10 June 2025. |
16 | https://osiris.itabc.cnr.it/scenebaker/index.php/projects/emviq/, accessed on 10 June 2025. |
17 | The plugin is still in an embryonic stage, and the one proposed is an experimental version. However, once a more stable version is reached, the plugin will be released on Zenodo. |
18 |
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RB Models Name | Survey Technique | Capture System | Sensors | Focal Length | Sensor’s Pixel Size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
23-06-2023 | drone photogrammetry | DJI mini 3 Pro | 1/1.3″CMOS | 24 mm | 2.4 μm |
03-07-2023 | terrestrial photogrammetry | Sony A6000 | APS-C (23.5 × 15.6 mm) | 16 mm | 3.91 μm |
11-10-2024 | drone and terrestrial photogrammetry | DJI mini 3 Pro, Sony A6000 | 1/1.3″CMOS, APS-C (23.5 × 15.6 mm) | 24mm, 16 mm | 2.4 μm, 3.91 μm |
11-04-2025 | terrestrial photogrammetry | Canon R8 | Fullframe CMOS (36 × 24 mm) | 24 mm | 5.98 μm |
Ara | terrestrial photogrammetry | Sony A6000, Oneplus 8 Pro | APS-C (23.5 × 15.6 mm), 1/1.43″ | 16 mm | 3.91 μm, 2.24 μm |
Lid | terrestrial photogrammetry | Canon R8 | Fullframe CMOS (36 × 24 mm) | 24 mm | 5.98 μm |
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© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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Lombardi, M.; Dubbini, R. From Earth to Interface: Towards a 3D Semantic Virtual Stratigraphy of the Funerary Ara of Ofilius Ianuarius from the Via Appia Antica 39 Burial Complex. Heritage 2025, 8, 305. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8080305
Lombardi M, Dubbini R. From Earth to Interface: Towards a 3D Semantic Virtual Stratigraphy of the Funerary Ara of Ofilius Ianuarius from the Via Appia Antica 39 Burial Complex. Heritage. 2025; 8(8):305. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8080305
Chicago/Turabian StyleLombardi, Matteo, and Rachele Dubbini. 2025. "From Earth to Interface: Towards a 3D Semantic Virtual Stratigraphy of the Funerary Ara of Ofilius Ianuarius from the Via Appia Antica 39 Burial Complex" Heritage 8, no. 8: 305. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8080305
APA StyleLombardi, M., & Dubbini, R. (2025). From Earth to Interface: Towards a 3D Semantic Virtual Stratigraphy of the Funerary Ara of Ofilius Ianuarius from the Via Appia Antica 39 Burial Complex. Heritage, 8(8), 305. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8080305