Portus Lupiae 3D Modeling and visual narrative for reconstructing a long maritime history

The fast evolution of digital technologies and techniques of data recording have had a great impact on archaeological research. The first effect of this revolution was an increased number of strongly technologically oriented projects and applications. Among all available solutions, the use of 3D models is particularly relevant for the reconstruction of sites and monuments poorly preserved, often destroyed by natural causes or human action. These digital replicas are, at the same time, a virtual environment that can be used as a tool for the interpretative hypotheses of archaeologists and an effective medium for a visual description of the cultural heritage as it crosses linguistic barriers. In this paper, methodology, aims and outcomes of a virtual reconstruction of the ancient harbour at St. Cataldo (Lecce, south Italy) carried out by Portus Lupiae Project of the University of Salento, are offered as case study for a virtual reconstruction of a long maritime activity. The use of 3D technologies for teaching and research as well as the post-processing and implementation of data generate a new digital workflow for sharing local culture.