Unveiling the hidden stories: the impact of digital technologies in medieval Latin epigraphic field documentation

The study explores the use of digital technologies in field documentation and analysis of medieval Latin inscriptions and focuses on three digital methods: Photogrammetry, RTI and micro-photogrammetry. It highlights the importance of Photogrammetry for creating detailed 3D models and orthophotos to enhance the readability of inscriptions in complex urban settings. Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) improves the visualization of text on deteriorating surfaces by utilising multidirectional lighting, while a new micro-photogrammetric method with a USB microscope allows for detailed examination of technological traces at the mesoscopic scale. The study will explore this use of digital technologies using three inscriptions from the province of Viterbo (Italy) dating from the 13th-15th centuries as case studies, one for each method: photogrammetry will be applied to the commemorative inscription (13th century: 1279) on the Sepale fountain in Viterbo; RTI will be tested on the commemorative inscription (14th century: 1333) of the church of S. Maria Assunta in Orte; finally, micro-photogrammetry will be applied to the funerary inscription (15th century: 1403) of the church of S. Maria Maggiore in Civita Castellana. The research suggests that while no single technique can address all challenges, a combined digital approach can effectively complement traditional methods in documenting medieval inscriptions, aiding in the development of comprehensive protocols for their preservation and analysis. • Photogrammetry, RTI and micro-photogrammetry to analyze medieval Latin inscriptions. • Field documentation of medieval Latin inscriptions executable by a single operator. • Case studies from the Province of Viterbo (Italy). • Limits and advantages of these technologies.