The embassy of Italy and Msheireb Museums, in co-operation with the Unesco Regional Office in Doha and Altair4, an Italian company specialised in 3D reconstructions of archaeological sites, have announced the opening of ‘ArcheoMed3D Exhibition’ today at Bin Jelmood House.
Supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, the exhibition aims to promote the immense and rich archaeological heritage of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Gulf by showcasing a great variety of Unesco listed World Heritage Sites.
The exhibition is formed by panels dedicated to the history of a selection of archaeological wonders from several countries: Italy (Temple of Zeus in Agrigento and Pompeii), Qatar (Al Zubarah), Morocco (Volubilis), Tunisia (El Jem), Algeria (Djemila), Syria (Krak des Chevaliers), Palestine (Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem), Lebanon (Baalbek), Turkey (Hagia Sophia), Jordan (Petra), Libya (Leptis Magna), United Arab Emirates (Al Ain), Bahrain (Qal’at al-Bahrain) and Egypt (Phile).
Every panel, which contains a description of the archaeological sites and images, reports also a QR code which allows visitors to enjoy exclusive 3D contents and videos on their smartphones or tablets by using the free App “ArcheoMed” that can be downloaded from Android or iOS Appstores.
“The exhibition is really enjoyable as it wisely combines culture and technology especially for the young generations and students who are passionate about 3D and Augmented Reality,” said Italian Ambassador Pasquale Salzano in a press statement.
“An exciting journey through the centuries into the past to the discovery of ancient civilisations and cultural identities,” the envoy noted.
“The exhibition aims to share knowledge in an innovative way and strengthen cultural co-operation and dialogue among peoples.”
The opening of the exhibition at 6.15pm will be followed by a panel discussion entitled ‘Reviving Ancient Heritage Sites Through Virtual Reality’, moderated by Dr Anna Paolini, Unesco representative in the Arab States of Gulf and Yemen and hosting Alessandro Furlan, founder of Altair4, Professor Thomas Leisten, acting chief officer of Cultural Heritage at Qatar Museums and architect Raffaello Furlan, assistant professor of Architecture and Urban Design at Qatar University’s College of Engineering.
“Virtual reconstruction of cultural and historical sites done in a scientific way encourages people to connect with the past, learn on how past shaped present and help understanding the importance of conservation of heritage sites to protect them for the future,” Dr Paolini said. 
“This exhibition is an important occasion to remind us about the need to care about the heritage of the past.”
After the opening, the ArcheoMed3D Exhibition will be open to public until March 9 at the Company House, Temporary Exhibition Gallery, Msheireb Museums.
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