Beyond stereoscopic: Combining spatial acquisition technologies in real-time engines to produce immersive virtual reality expereinces for the dissemination of archaeological research

The foundation of this paper was the 3D-Pitoti.eu project 20132016. Its aim was to acquire archaeological rock-art from Val-camonica in the Southern Alps by using modern 3D scanning technologies, building on previous work with 2D animation of rock art[4]. The project also aimed to capture multi-scaled 3D data from the macroscopic level of airborne surveillance down to the sub millimetre of coloured laser scans. These static scans where used to formulate ways of (re-)animating the figures that are depicted in these ancient rock-art artefacts. The use of motion-capture, hand animation and novel volumetric recording systems lead to complex datasets that we combined in a novel workflow utilizing a real-time game engine as our virtual production studio. The final challenge was to create Pitoti Prometheus a narrated 3D 360° VR film experience for final dissemination of our work for the public and archaeological research sector.