Visualize to Valorize – For a better utilisation of hidden archaeological heritage in Central Europe
Cultural heritage is at the heart of what it means to be European and it is being discovered by both governments and citizens as a means of improving economic performance, people’s lives and living environments. Indeed archaeological (arch.) heritage is also now widely appreciated as an essential part of Europe’s underlying socio-economic, cultural and natural capital. This is a significant change in focus as the protection of arch. findings and sites have traditionally been regarded as costs to society. Central Europe has a broad diversity of arch. heritage partly excellently developed and utilized. However, a broad share of this heritage - even of international importance - is very often hardly visible and tangible for the public and faces increasing menaces. In addition, inherent potentials for regional development lie idle and are waiting to become unveiled. But only archaeology, as prime owner of knowledge and information, may introduce those hidden pearls for economic use and implementation. Hence, Virtual Arch will contribute to a sustainable use and protection of non-visible and little known archaeological heritage underground or submerged by increasing the capacities of public actors in the field of archaeological heritage protection on presentation by introducing innovative visualization approaches and methods such as trend-setting ICT&Virtual Reality (VR) tools. This introduces hidden arch. heritage as stimulant for regional growth and employment in new industries. Efforts to address valorization of invisible arch. heritage via visualization cannot be taken by countries and regions in isolation if they are to be effective. Participating regions are facing same challenges and share same aims and objectives. However, local framework conditions, methods and techniques applied are still different. Transnational cooperation will support the development of respective solutions by development of standard procedures, common tools and knowledge exchange.