A 3D geospatial platform and AI tour application for visualizing archaeological, analytical, and conservation data: the case of the Vryokastro archaeological ensemble, Kythnos Island

• 3D geospatial platform integrating archaeological, analytical, and conservation data. • High-resolution 3D reconstructions using laser scanning and photogrammetry. • AI-powered virtual tour with dynamic storytelling and question answering. • Smart conservator chatbot for natural language interaction on heritage topics. This study presents an integrated digital platform developed under the Palimpsisto project to enhance the visualization, interpretation, and conservation of cultural heritage, using the archaeological site of Vryokastro on Kythnos island as a case study. The platform combines a three-dimensional geospatial system with a virtual tour application powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to enable immersive, interactive access to archaeological, analytical, and conservation data. This multidisciplinary approach, which included stable isotope analysis of bone, glass, and mortar samples, aimed to reconstruct past dietary practices, determine the provenance of raw materials, and monitor degradation phenomena. This data was integrated into a PostgreSQL/PostGIS geodatabase and visualized through Unity and Cesium, enabling real-time, georeferenced 3D rendering. The platform features include a “smart conservator” chatbot, a storytelling engine trained on custom T5 language models for dynamic narration and question answering, as well as tools for degradation simulation. By combining archaeometric research with advanced digital technologies, the system promotes heritage education, public engagement, and decision-making in conservation practices. The Palimpsisto platform provides a replicable model for future applications in digital archaeology and heritage informatics.