Heritage Preservation Through History

Andrea Vitaletti serves as Associate Professor at Sapienza University of Rome, where he has built an impressive career since earning his Ph.D. in Computer Science in 2002. His academic journey includes research visits to prestigious institutions like ETHZ and AT&T Research Labs. His research portfolio includes over 60 published papers focusing on algorithms and protocols for wireless networks, IoT, and distributed data management. As founder of successful tech ventures including WLAB (sold in 2016) and WSENSE (left in 2019), he demonstrates expertise in technology commercialization. Currently co-founder of GIUSTA, he continues to bridge academic research with practical applications. His leadership extends to coordinating major EU projects, including the FET OPEN project PLEASED, while managing a research group at the Wireless Sensor Networks lab at DIAG. Through his Coursera course "Recovering the Humankind's Past and Saving the Universal Heritage," he shares his expertise in applying wireless sensor networks to cultural heritage preservation. His teaching encompasses networking, data management, and IoT topics in both Engineering and Product Design programs.

Dr. Davide Nadali serves as Associate Professor in Near Eastern Archaeology at Sapienza University of Rome, where he has made significant contributions to understanding ancient Mesopotamian civilization. Since earning his Ph.D. in 2006 focusing on Neo-Assyrian bas-reliefs, he has led numerous archaeological expeditions and research projects. His work spans from Syria's Ebla, where he has been involved since 1998, to southern Iraq's Tell Zurghul (ancient Nigin) where he co-directs excavations since 2014. His research interests encompass ancient warfare, Assyrian art and architecture, and the interpretation of ancient images in Mesopotamian and Syrian contexts. As Principal Investigator of "Time through Colours," a nationally funded project analyzing painted artifacts, he demonstrates his commitment to innovative archaeological research methods. His expertise extends to early urban development, particularly in the Early Dynastic Period of southern Mesopotamia, while his recent work includes the study of water management in ancient Near Eastern societies. Through his Coursera course "Recovering the Humankind's Past and Saving the Universal Heritage," he shares insights from his extensive fieldwork and research experience

A dedicated archaeologist and PhD candidate specializing in open-source approaches to Cultural Heritage documentation and visualization. Currently serving as a Fellowship Researcher at CNR-ITABC's Virtual Heritage Lab in Rome, focusing on innovative 3D survey methodologies and archaeological risk management. Expertise spans terrestrial and underwater archaeological documentation using computer vision, drone photogrammetry, and integrated 3D survey techniques. Proven experience in multiple archaeological expeditions across Rome, Italy, and Greece, responsible for comprehensive documentation including traditional hand drawing, total station surveys, photogrammetry, laser scanning, and DGPS implementation. Teaching contribution includes Open Source 3D modeling (Blender) in the UNESCO IFICLU Open Techne Master program. Current research focuses on developing AR solutions for mobile cultural heritage visualization, emphasizing source transparency, metadata enrichment, and innovative visualization strategies. Committed to advancing open-source methodologies in archaeological documentation and heritage preservation through the integration of 3D-GIS applications and computer vision technologies.

Dr. Paolo Matthiae stands as one of the most distinguished figures in Near Eastern archaeology, serving as Emeritus Professor at Sapienza University of Rome. His groundbreaking discovery and excavation of Ebla, Syria, which he directed for 47 seasons (1964-2010), revolutionized our understanding of third-millennium BCE Syria. His academic excellence is recognized through fellowships in prestigious institutions including the Accademia dei Lincei, Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, and the Royal Swedish Academy. His leadership roles include serving as Dean of Humanities (2001-2004) and University Vice-President (2005-2008) at Sapienza, while also chairing the Scientific Committee of the International Congress of the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East since 1998. Through his Coursera course "Recovering the Humankind's Past and Saving the Universal Heritage," he shares insights from his extensive archaeological experience. His scholarly contributions include 18 books and over 230 articles, with seminal works like "Ebla: An Empire Rediscovered" (1978) and "Gli Archivi Reali di Ebla" (2010). His achievements earned him the Knight of Great Cross of Italian Republic and honorary doctorates from Madrid and Copenhagen Universities