Digitization, Interpretation, and Valorization of Ruined Architecture: Case Studies of IT Strategies in the Archeological Field

This paper examines the role of digital technologies in advancing archeological research, using two complex, stratified case studies—the Villa Reale of Haghia Triada in Crete and the rock-cut churches of Pantalica in Sicily—as reference points. Both sites, despite their geographical and chronological differences, present comparable challenges: fragmented evidence, incomplete documentation, and the need for multi-scalar interpretation. By integrating photogrammetry, LiDAR scanning, and other 3D acquisition techniques with 3D modeling approaches, this paper explores how digital workflows can both preserve and reinterpret fragile archeological contexts. The aim of this research is to critically assess the methodological potential and epistemological implications of these tools, emphasizing transparency, reproducibility, and their communicative value for scholarly communities and wider audiences.