ARCHEOLOGIA 3:0-3D: NOTE IN MARGINE AD UNA TRASFORMAZIONE METODOLOGICA

Abstract

The invitation to present at the opening conference of the School of Specialization in Archaeology at the
University La Sapienza gave me the opportunity to discuss methodological transformations and research
perspectives in digital and cyber-archaeology and, more in general, new scenarios in the archaeology of the
third millennium. This contribution will be focused on the digital phenomenology of this process in relation
to archaeological interpretation, communication and cognitive impact. The transformational and multivocal
nature of the digital process requires new kinds of studies and a theoretical analysis in addition to the technological
impact of data interpretation. The contribution of neuroarchaeology will be key to understanding
this process, to evaluate what happens to the brain during a virtual simulation and an empirical experience
and how these activities can influence each other. Initial EEG and eye-tracking experiments would seem to
indicate that archaeologists and non-archaeologists have completely different reactions when observing an
archaeological excavations and one would imagine that this extends to their interpretation processes