La ricostruzione 3D del Foro di Rusellae

This paper proposes an updated reconstructive hypothesis of the structures that form the forum of Rusellae (GR) in its last monumental phase (Trajan-Hadrian), drawing on new data from the PRIN PNRR GreatT project. The area underwent a gradual process of regularisation and monumentalisation from the Etruscan to the Roman period, with frequent reuse or modification of pre-existing structures. The buildings were therefore digitally modelled as three-dimensional volumes. This reconstruction proved crucial for evaluating – through simulations – structural interpretations concerning the articulation, form and dimensions of the various structures as well as for clarifying uncertain chronological aspects of the remains. Moreover, visualisation through graphic rendering and real time 3D navigation interfaces contributes to an immediate understanding of the spatial layout of the area and the visual perception of the structures. The preserved remains, together with the presence of an excavation trench in the centre of the square – which currently makes the space appear divided into two distinct sectors – complicate the diachronic interpretation of the complex. The proposed reconstruction enabled further visibility analyses applied to the 3D models in order to investigate topographical choices of location and orientation, as well as to test metadata management systems required for the reconstruction process, particularly within the Web3D environment .