Talking about the revolution. Innovation in communication within the ArchAIDE project Francesca Anichini, Holly Wright, Llorenç Vila 3rd International Conference on Best Practices in World Heritage Mahon, Minorca – 2-5 May 2018

1. Francesca Anichini. Mappa Lab. Università di Pisa. francesca.anichini@for.unipi.it
Holly Wright. Archaeology Data Service. University of York. holly.wright@york.ac.uk
Llorenç Vila. Elements. Centre de gestió i difusió de Patrimoni Cultural. vila@elements-arq.com

2. Archaeological Automatic Identification
and Documentation of cEramics
The main goal of the project is to create a computer-based application for the automatic
identification of archaeological pottery from a single picture of a sherd.
Professional archaeologist have to deal with massive numbers of pottery sherds on a daily
basis. Hundreds of sherds, when not thousands, are daily recovered from preventive
excavations which, according to the current legislation, must be properly inventoried and
afterwards delivered to the Museum –or other designated institution.
The classification task requires the archaeologists to spend a lot of time digging in paper
catalogues and compare the pottery shapes found in the excavations. Consequently, the
classification of sherds is a high time-consuming process nowadays. In this regard,
the automatic identification of the types proposed by Archaide project might represent
a very remarkable step forward in the field.

3. Archaeological Automatic Identification
and Documentation of cEramics
The system operates on both shape and appearance-based recognition. Thus,
the reference database has been fed with both drawings of archaeological
pottery and photos of real potsherds.

4. Archaeological Automatic Identification
and Documentation of cEramics

5. Archaeological Automatic Identification
and Documentation of cEramics

6. ArchAIDE has put special emphasis on communication activities to maximize the impact beyond the project partnership.
The project website (www.archaide.eu) is the reference point for all target of audiences and a crucial element in the
communication strategy. All the community is welcome to participate in the project with their skills and/or resources,
and become an associate (www.archaide.eu/associates).

7. Archaeological Automatic Identification
and Documentation of cEramics

8. Archaeological Automatic Identification
and Documentation of cEramics
A wide range of Web-based resources are being used on a daily basis to explain not only the main goals but also the ongoing
progress of the project. The concept of “visual storytelling” has been adopted as a key concept; images and core concepts are
the basis in creating an easy and multi-level communication action.