Digital archaeological projects and their influence on the perception of cultural identities in different regions

Abstract

The digitalisation of archaeological heritage was transforming the methods of storing, visualising, and interpreting archaeological data, whilst also influencing the perception of cultural identities across various regional and institutional contexts. The aim of this study was to determine how the application of computational tools in the study of archaeological heritage alters conceptions of collective memory, historical belonging, and modes of interpreting the past in colonial and postcolonial societies. The research methodology was grounded in a theoretical-analytical approach and encompassed qualitative content analysis, comparison and systematisation, the logical-analytical method, and theoretical generalisation. Data analysis identified the principal forms of digital archaeological projects: three-dimensional documentation of archaeological sites and digital twins; three-dimensional reconstructions; digital archives; integrated research infrastructures; geoinformation projects; virtual museums and interactive exhibitions; and digital repatriation. It was established that digital repositories, three-dimensional models, and integrated research infrastructures broaden access to archaeological materials beyond their physical storage locations. It was determined that three-dimensional reconstructions construct a spatial image of the past but necessitate a demarcation between verified and hypothetical elements. Regional analysis enabled the identification of infrastructural, documentary, landscape-analytical, reconstructive-managerial, and archival-epigraphic models of digital archaeological heritage. Consequently, it was revealed that the decolonisation of the digital archaeological narrative depends on the transparency of object provenance, the participation of source communities in the description of materials, and the possibility of updating metadata. The findings of this research can be utilised by researchers, museum specialists, digital archive developers, and educational institutions when creating digital projects related to archaeological heritage and cultural identity.