Graphic reconstruction of a Roman mosaic with animal emblems and its digital interpretation

Kočevar, Tanja Nuša (author), Oštir, Gregor (author), Guna, Jože (author), Nestorović, Aleksandra (author), Gabrijelčič Tomc, Helena (author)

This contribution examines the use of ICT in mosaic heritage to enhance the user experience in heritage interpretation. The study focuses on the digital graphic reconstruction of a Roman mosaic featuring animal emblems. As the original mosaic is no longer physically accessible, the reconstruction relied on the systematic collection, comparison, and analysis of diverse visual sources, including archival photographs, historical drawings, and related documentation; photography and drone capture; digital assembly of borders of hand-drawn mosaic elements; and systematic assembly and completion of repetitions in representative mosaic motifs and observational color and design refinement of animal emblems. The article outlines the mosaic’s schematic layout and the key reconstruction steps, resulting in a digital representation developed within the limits imposed by the available evidence. The outcome demonstrates that combining historical research and digital graphics can effectively support the preservation and communication of cultural heritage. Finally, an augmented reality application for interactive presentation of the reconstructed mosaic is introduced, enabling users to explore both the reconstruction process and the interpretive meanings of individual mosaic elements, thereby enhancing engagement and understanding.

• Language: English
• Keywords: roman mosaic, animal emblems, dionysus, graphic reconstruction, augmented reality
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: NTF - Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 22 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 9, iss. 3, art. 108
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-181702
• UDC: 665
• ISSN on article: 2571-9408
• DOI: 10.3390/heritage9030108
• COBISS.SI-ID: 274980099
• Publication date in RUL: 14.04.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Heritage
• Shortened title: Heritage
• Publisher: MDPI AG
• ISSN: 2571-9408
• COBISS.SI-ID: 1538164675

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: rimski mozaik, živalski emblemi, Dioniz, grafična rekonstrukcija, navidezna resničnost

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P2-0450-2024
• Name: Inovativna grafična tehnologija