How Can Virtual Reality Reveal the Secrets of a Roman Tomb?

In 2023 archaeologists photographed the funerary altar of Ofilius Ianuarius, found at Via Appia Antica 39. Using photogrammetry they turned the pictures into georeferenced 3D models, meaning they match the exact ground coordinates. Then they tested two digital workflows. The first employs the Extended Matrix Framework (EMF), Blender and EMviq to build a network of stratigraphic layers and publish it online. The second converts the models to .gltf format, enriches them with semantic annotations via the CRMArcheo Annotation Tool, and uploads them to the ATON platform. Both methods document the tomb’s structure precisely, but differ in how well they add structured information and exchange data with other systems. The outcome shows that a “real” 3D model can also become a “knowledge container”, linking archaeological data, ontologies and interactive visualisations. This approach makes it easier to test hypotheses, share results and engage the public. In the future scholars may connect more sites, create open archives and make research more transparent and reproducible, turning discovery into a shared digital experience.

The EMF workflow relies on the Extended Matrix, a theoretical model representing overlay relationships among stratigraphic units. In Blender, the 3D meshes are imported as separate objects for each depositional phase, allowing each to be assigned an EMviq attribute describing its temporal position and material type. The EMviq interface generates a JSON file encoding hierarchical connections, enabling interactive web visualization. The second workflow leverages the .gltf format, an open standard for transmitting 3D models with textures and animations. The CRMArcheo Annotation Tool, developed as a Blender add‑on, lets users attach a set of semantic metadata to each geometric element, conforming to the CIDOC‑CRM model and facilitating interoperability with archaeological databases. Annotations are exported in RDF/Turtle, integrable into thematic ontologies such as LIDO or Open Context. The ATON platform, based on WebGL, provides real‑time rendering of complex scenes and interaction via VR/AR. With these technologies, researchers can compare stratigraphic data with micro‑stratigraphic, isotopic, or dating analyses, creating a digital twin of the entire funerary complex. This approach promotes methodological transparency, as every step—from photographic acquisition to metadata publication—is documented and replicable, paving the way for comparative studies across Europe. Moreover, the modularity of .gltf and RDF formats eases integration with future AI platforms, which could analyze stratigraphic patterns across large datasets, enhancing our understanding of ancient Roman funerary processes.