Despoina TsiafakiAthena-Research and Innovation Center in Information, Communication and Knowledge Technologies · Culture & Creative Industries Department
Despoina Tsiafaki
Ph.D. In Classical Archaeology
About
76
Publications
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Introduction
D. Tsiafaki has participated in various projects regarding Cultural Heritage. She has taught courses on Archaeology and Cultural Technology. Her current research involves Ancient Ceramics, Archaeology, Archaeometry, Cultural Technology with emphasis on the development of cultural databases, multimedia applications and Museum guides, 3D reconstruction, and archaeological GIS.
Publications
Publications (76)
Ως μέρος μιας παγκόσμιας τάσης για την εφαρμογή πρακτικών της Ανοικτής Επιστήμης, κρίνεται ιδιαιτέρως χρήσιμη η παρουσίαση των πρωτοβουλιών σε διεθνές επίπεδο και η σύγκριση με το ελληνικό παράδειγμα και την προσωπική μας εμπειρία, όπου παρά την αυξανόμενη χρήση της ψηφιακής τεχνολογίας στην αρχαιολογική έρευνα, οι στρατηγικές συγκρότησης, επιμέλει...
This paper presents work within the framework of the R&D project “Mythological Routes in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace”, which showcases the cultural wealth of the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace as the basis for the development of the tourism industry. The starting point of the project is the systematic recording, mapping, and promotion of a...
The North Aegean was a region densely inhabited already in the Iron Age. Archaeological research has brought to light an abundance of material remains and information that enable us to picture glimpses of the life there and of the inhabitants. The agropastoral economies appear to have had dominant roles within the settlements, many of which begun t...
Storytelling has been recognized as a powerful means for engaging visitors of cultural heritage and fostering historical empathy. The creators of storytelling and other types of cultural heritage experiences are in need of reliable sources of information and inspiration that are often difficult to access. In this article we present the Voeska proje...
This paper presents ongoing work within the framework of the R&D project “Mythological Routes in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace”, which is co-financed by Greece and the European Union, aiming at showcasing the cultural wealth of the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace as the basis for the development of the tourism industry. The starting point of...
Haptic prohibition is one of the most common limitations when interacting with museum artefacts. This restriction aims quite logically at preventing damages while safeguarding the integrity of the cultural reserve, which is primarily characterised by its uniqueness. Nevertheless, in cases where museum visitors are visually impaired, the inability t...
This article provides an overview of the current situation in Greece regarding digital archaeological data stewardship. A brief chronicle of Greek archaeology sets the scene for a better understanding of the present situation. Greek archaeology is supervised by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, with the Archaeological Service as the central organ...
Through the use of written sources and archaeological finds, this chapter will examine the establishment of the Greeks in the northern Aegean and the formation of their cultural physiognomy. This overview will encompass the area extending from the Thermaic Gulf to the Thracian Chersonese, and from the Iron Age to the Hellenistic period. At the time...
This study uses chemical analysis (micro-XRF) to study a group of ceramic roof tiles from the Early Christian basilica in Paliambela (N Greece) that carry a number of different fingerline signatures, in order to collect compositional data on the provenance of the tile materials. It analyses the interrelatedness of the signatures and discusses alter...
In this unique collection the authors present a wide range of interdisciplinary methods to study, document, and conserve material cultural heritage. The methods used serve as exemplars of best practice with a wide variety of cultural heritage objects having been recorded, examined, and visualised. The objects range in date, scale, materials, and st...
The essays in this collection are transformative, moving beyond basic collaboration and skilfully contextualizing both scientic knowledge in the humanities and humanities knowledge in the sciences. Doing so not only heightens the quality of the research, but heightens understanding, redrawing traditional lines between disciplines and redening what...
In this unique collection the authors present a wide range of interdisciplinary methods to study, document, and conserve material cultural heritage. The methods used serve as exemplars of best practice with a wide variety of cultural heritage objects having been recorded, examined, and visualised. The objects range in date, scale, materials, and st...
p class="VARAbstract">A key issue in the study of cultural assets is theiroften fragmentary condition. This causes serious problems and questions regarding theirstudy and presentation. Pottery fragments are the most numerous findings in every excavation. Furthermore, pottery plays an essential role for the reconstruction of the past, since it provi...
The present work constitutes the first two phases of the archaeometric study of the so-called “Siphnian” ware found in two different geographical regions in Greece, Argilos, in eastern Macedonia, and its metropolis in southern Greece, Andros island. Identification of the provenance of the Siphnian-type pottery found in the above regions is the prin...
Web portals are entry points for information presentation and exchange over the Internet used by a community of interest. A part of the European cultural heritage thesaurus has already being offered as digital collections using various formats and thus there is a requirement for management, preservation and archiving of such digital assets as well...
The present work constitutes the first two phases of the archaeometric study of the so-called “Siphnian”
ware found in two different geographical regions in Greece, Argilos, in eastern Macedonia, and its
metropolis in southern Greece, Andros island. Identification of the provenance of the Siphnian-type pottery
found in the above regions is the prin...
The application of 3D digital technologies in the archaeological research expands more and more during the last decades. 3D recording, visualisation, representation and reconstruction of archaeological sites, monuments and artefacts become almost a common trend in the archaeological work. Moreover, CAD reconstructions, 3D simulation, computer anima...
Colour and Space in Cultural Heritage (www.COSCH.info) is a transdomain
European Action (TD1201) in the area of Materials, Physics
and Nanosciences (MPNS). The Action runs from 2013 to 2017 and
benefits from the support of the European Cooperation in Science
and Technology
http://www.cost.eu/domains_actions/mpns/Actions/TD1201. The
Authors are acti...
The paper introduces some key interdisciplinary questions concerning the development of optical measuring techniques and electronic imaging applied to documentation and presentation of artefacts, as identified through the work of Colour and Space in Cultural Heritage (www.COSCH.info), a trans-domain European Action (TD1201) in the area of Materials...
The study presents a general methodology for designing, developing and implementing predictive modelling for identifying areas of archaeological interest. The methodology is based on documented archaeological data and geographical factors, geospatial analysis and predictive modelling, and has been applied to the identification of possible Macedonia...
The identification of areas that are insignificant for archaeological research can be used for guidance and support in projects that involve decision-making about the use of land and modern development activities. On the other hand, the identification of areas significant for archaeological research can contribute to archaeological knowledge and mi...
The application of technologies in humanities and specifically in Archaeology over the past recent years has yielded important expertise that can be successfully exploited by both Archaeological Research and Cultural Heritage Management. This study presents a general methodology for designing, developing and implementing predictive modelling for id...
The identification of areas that are insignificant for archaeological research can be used for guidance and support in projects that involve decision-making about the use of land and modern development activities. On the other hand, the identification of areas significant for archaeological research can contribute to archaeological knowledge and mi...
Northern Greece is the main region where more than 90 Macedonian tombs, dated in the late classical and Hellenistic period, have been discovered. Geospatial data processing technologies (GIS), predictive modelling techniques and fuzzy logic were applied to the study area in order to create a predictive model that would be able to provide map region...
Subject of this paper is the publication of an East Greek fruitstand found at the settlement located on the low mound of Karabournaki, in the area of Thermaic gulf at Thessaloniki. The site is recognized as a part (kome) of the ancient Thermi, and in particular as its harbor. The latter, located by the settlement, was the only harbor at the center...
"The volume contains 32 papers on ancient Greek ceramics, offered by the students to the teacher. The papers regard a) Attic black- and red-figure pottery and iconography of the Archaic and Classical era, b) Ionian, Corinthian, Boiotian and South Italian pottery dated from the Archaic and Classical times, c) local pottery from excavations held in a...
This paper presents a methodology to predict the geographical locations of Macedonian Tombs based on archaeological and geographical facts, geospatial analysis, predictive modeling and fuzzy logic. The methodology was developed upon the assumption that the location of those tombs was not randomly chosen, but it was a result of logical decisions bas...
Several Byzantine findings of three excavations in Thessaloniki are studied by archaeological and archaeometric means. The first group of findings excavated in Acheiropiitos Church (Thessaloniki) includes one piece of glass, adapted on a glass fuming metal tube (Gb), a piece of stone which was a part of glass heating oven (K1), a melting pot (Mp) a...
The on-going excavations in the part of the ancient settlement
located on the summit of the Karabournaki Toumba
have brought to light architectural remains and storage
areas alongside waste pits and semi-underground beehive
structures. All these areas have yielded large quantities of
pottery, domestic and imported. The settlement’s location
next to...
The Cultural and Educational Technology Institute in Xanthi
(“Athena” Research Centre, www.athena-innovation.
gr, www.ipet.gr) is carrying out an archaeometrical study in
collaboration with the excavators of Argilos (Z. Bonias and
J. Perreault) and Andros (S. Paspalas and Ch. Televantou)
in order to investigate the archaeological issue regarding
th...
The paper presents the results of an archaeometric study of G 2-3 Ware samples conducted between 2008 and 2011 in the Cultural and Technological Institute/ R.C. “Athena” in Xanthi, Greece. It aimed to determine the chemical composition of 118 ceramic samples found in Samothrace (Fig. 2), Thassos (Fig. 7), Neapolis (Fig. 6), Eion (Fig. 5), Argilos (...
a b s t r a c t This paper presents a novel compact shape descriptor designed specifically for content-based retrieval of complete or nearly complete 3D vessel replicas. The descriptor consists of two vectors that carry morphological features of the vessel's main body and appendages. The extraction of the descriptor is based on a pose normalisation...
The ancient settlement placed next to the ancient harbor in the modern area of Karabournaki, preserves a great number of ceramics local and imported that indicate the importance of the site as a commercial and distribution point. Of special interest here are the Corinthian and the Corinthian type pottery unearthed in the site. Along to the imported...
Archaeology, and in particular Classical Archae-ology, that is the archaeological investigation of the great Mediterranean civilizations of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, has been one of the principal fields of interest –scholarly or not- for the past few centuries. The contribution of Renaissance for example, to the re-vival of the ancient Greek...
The paper presents the results of an archaeometric study of G 2-3 Ware samples conducted between 2008 and 2011 in the Cultural and Technological Institute/ R.C. “Athena” in Xanthi, Greece. It aimed to determine the chemical composition of 118 ceramic samples found in Samothrace (fig. 2), Thassos (fig. 7), Neapolis (fig. 6), Eion (fig. 5), Argilos (...
The development of content based retrieval mechanisms is a very active research area. Present studies are mainly focused on automating the information extraction and indexing processes. Usually for the development and evaluation of such mechanisms, there is always a need for a ground-truth database. In this paper, we present a software tool named q...
The 'Virtual Guide' project developed an advanced Guide system for Museums and Exhibitions using low-cost technologies. The goal of the 'Virtual Guide' project was to offer a rich and interesting visiting experience and to improve the attractiveness and accessibility of Museums and their exhibits. Operation Scenario: The visitor enters a Museum and...
The application of the new technologies in the field of culture meets a great popularity during the last decades. Along to them, guidelines and prototypes have been developed in order to support and control them. The result is the Digital Culture. The question is “And now What?”
Focus of the paper is to explore certain aspects of this newly created...
Nowadays commercial 3D range scanning systems have been used for the accurate digitisation of cultural heritage sites by following either terrestrial or aerial scanning approaches. Both approaches require high cost special equipment and software to cope with the vast amount of raw data. These raw data can be characterised as superfluous in cases wh...
The benchmarking of 3D content base retrieval mechanisms is usually performed on test bed datasets composed by 3D models. These usually cover several categories of objects such as ships, airplanes, animals, furniture, etc. In this paper, we attempted the generation of a ground truth database of 3D models that exhibit morphological characteristics s...
The museum is by definition, a learning environment. Through the collections and their display in open to the public galleries, the museums send multiple messages and allow a variety of interpretations. Nowadays the museum is no longer a “treasury” for valuable objects and a keeper of evidence for the national identity. It is accepted as a place wi...
Continuity and relation to the past are inherent in human nature. The remains of the past constitute culture and cultural heritage. Preservation and dissemination of cultural heritage appear to be, nowadays, a universal priority. Historic/architectural monuments are among the most significant categories of cultural heritage and their 3D digitizatio...
D digitization of monuments is a very specific problem in the digitization domain. Since the size of the digitization subject is one of the most important factors in choosing an appropriate and adequate digitization technology and methodology, this problem cannot be addressed using just one simple digitization technique. Various tech- niques have b...
Luminescence signals from naturally occurring minerals have been used
over the last forty years for dating both heated materials and unheated
sediments. Thermoluminescence (TL) is the most widespread used method
for dating heated materials in general (Aitken M.J.,1985) and especially
archaeological artifacts like ceramics (Zimmerman D.W.,1971), whi...
An exotic land, beyond the limits of any wild fantasy, Thrace offered always a series of tales that attracted the Greek mind. Beginning with Homer and continuing with the greatest poets and tragedians of the Classical era, Thracian myths and heroes became a source of inspiration reflecting respectively the Greek view and attitude towards to their n...
Sphinx, Siren, Gorgon, Minotaur, Acheloos, Triton, Typhon, Pan, Satyr and Centaur, are some of the most characteristic composite creatures represented broadly in ancient Greek art. Greeks familiarized themselves with fantasy elements that convey various aspects of their life and their mythology based on heroes who are monster fighters, envisaged th...
The paper presents a representative sellection of the types of the East Greek pottery fragments found in the area of the settlement that is located in Karabournaki and it is identified with the harbor settlement of the ancient Therma in the are of Thermaic gulf (Thessaloniki).
Complete recording of Cultural Heritage is a multi-disciplinary and multi-dimensional process. It does not only address the problem of three-dimensional (3D) dig-itization of objects and monuments but involves all the aspects of this new digital con-tent management, representation and reproduction. It addresses issues affecting the whole life cycle...
Subject of this paper is to propose an innovative interactive system for 3D visualization of digital music archives. In such archives, digital music is accompanied by complementary information and metadata that describe its content. The proposed 3D visualization environment is able to provide multi-scale representations driven by ap-propriate clust...
Karabournaki-Recording the Past" is a project regarding the digital documentation of an archaeological site using as a case study the site of Karabournaki located in the area of Thessaloniki (Greece). Focus of the project is to design, develop, and implement a multimedia cultural database system capturing the full amount of the available informatio...
Digitization is one of the most important issues in cultural heritage preserva- tion. Several digitization projects, active today, will result in a massive amount of digital data representing the cultural heritage. This wealth of cultural information in digital form will be rendered useless in a digital universe without access. In this framework, v...