Collaborative Environments in Archaeology

In the last years the diffusion of high speed Internet connection, the possibility to develop complex dynamics of interaction inside the virtual domain, the desire of people to create new forms of virtual aggregation are determining new scenarios in the field of cultural transmission. We are passing from traditional linear systems to reticular, evolving and hybrid metaphors of communication based on continuous processes of feedback, experiences and informative exchange between the users and the digital ecosystem. It is possible to find virtual communities developed within three-dimensional environments, where the users can directly contribute to modify and update the cyberspace, creating and sharing information. The paper will discuss about virtual reality environments and Multiuser Domain for data sharing, interpretation and communication in the field of virtual heritage. In this domain the state of the art is still quite pioneering, because there are few examples of collaborative environments in 3D specifically dedicated to cultural and scientific contents. The Virtual Heritage Lab of CNR ITABC is developing research projects oriented to the study and communication of archaeology and cultural heritage through Multiuser virtual reality applications (off and on line). In this contribution two case studies will be presented: The Virtual Museum of Ancient Via Flaminia, available in the National Roman Museum of Rome since January 2008, and the FIRB project Integrated Technologies of robotics and virtual environment in archaeology (supported by the Italian Ministry of Research), still in progress, but available on the web from next spring 2009.