LAD services temporarily unreachable due to a GARR connectivity issue
On 2 October 2026 a connectivity problem on the infrastructure of our provider GARR made LAD's IT services unreachable. Update: the resources came back online late on 2 October.
News
This section of the LAD website — Laboratory of Digital Archaeology at Sapienza — collects news about events, conferences, lectures, seminars, and other matters relevant to the lab. To report news, write to julian.bogdani@uniroma1.it.
The migration of BraDypUS applications from version 4 to version 5 begins
The migration of BraDypUS applications hosted by LAD from version 4 (bdus.cloud/db) to version 5 (bdus.lad-sapienza.it) is underway. The old instances remain available read-only until their move to cold storage, planned for spring
Online CHIN-DICTIONARY: the online version of Basilio Brollo's Dictionarium sinico-latinum
CHIN-DICTIONARY is now online, the new digital platform dedicated to Basilio Brollo's Dictionarium sinico-latinum. The site was developed as part of the PRIN PNRR 2022 project using s:CMS (v. 6.1.8), the open-source system for publishing research projects and data developed by LAD and based on Astro, React and MDX. Integration with a Directus database and a series of purpose-built components now allows users to consult a fully digital version of the dictionary, enabling dynamic exploration of characters and lexicographic relationships as well as comparison with texts against the documentary heritage recorded in the manuscript.
Scheduled interruption of LAD services for GARR Cloud maintenance
LAD services hosted on GARR Cloud (garr-ct1 region, Catania) will be temporarily unreachable from 28 to 30 July 2026 for extraordinary maintenance of the UPS system.
New publication: N. Aleotti, Corcira e la sua perea. Archeologia del culto in età arcaica e classica
Nadia Aleotti's new volume explores the archaeology of cult at Corcyra and in its Epirote perea between the late 8th and the 4th century BC.
Participation in the international conference “Fortified Landscapes: Towards a Research Project”
On Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 April 2026, the co-director of the Italian-Albanian Archaeological Mission at Çuka e Ajtoit, Julian Bogdani, will take part with a paper in the international conference “Fortified Landscapes: Towards a Research Project” at the University of Catania.
Participation in the international conference “Viti Arkeologjik 2025”
On Thursday 25 March 2026, the co-director of the Italian-Albanian Archaeological Mission at Çuka e Ajtoit will take part with a paper in the conference “Viti Arkeologjik 2025” at the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Albania
International workshop: “Far from the city: fortifications and organisational models on the margins of traditional historiography”
International workshop at the KNIR in Rome dedicated to fortifications and organisational models on the margins of traditional historiography, as part of the PRIN 2022 FortNet project. The event, to be held on 6 February 2026, will explore defensive systems in northern Epirus, from the Ionian coast to the Balkan area, through a multidisciplinary approach.
Beyond the city: seminar at the School of Specialisation in Archaeological Heritage of the University of Bologna
The co-director of the Sapienza Archaeological Mission in Albania, Prof. Julian Bogdani, will give a seminar entitled: “Beyond the city: the fortified settlement of Çuka e Ajtoit, in Cestrine”.
Registration open for the 2026 campaign of the Sapienza Archaeological Mission in Albania (June 2026)
2026 campaign of the Sapienza Archaeological Mission in Albania
Nadia Aleotti takes part in the workshop on transport containers and trade in the Adriatic area from Antiquity to the Middle Ages
Nadia Aleotti presents new data on amphorae and Adriatic trade from Late Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages from the Sapienza Archaeological Mission at Çuka e Ajtoit (Albania). Workshop in Chieti, 27-28 November 2025.
Participation of J. Bogdani and L. Cardarelli in the second edition of the international conference “Linking Pasts and Sharing Knowledge”
On Wednesday 26 November 2025, Julian Bogdani and Lorenzo Cardarelli will take part in the second edition of the international conference “Linking Pasts and Sharing Knowledge”
Julian Bogdani chairs the first AIAC Meeting of November 2025 at the KNIR, Rome
On Monday 10 November, Julian Bogdani will chair the first meeting of the International Association for Classical Archaeology (AIAC) of autumn 2025, to be held at 5:00 PM at the Royal Netherlands Institute in Rome.
Lecture by Lorenzo Cardarelli at the University of Bologna: “AI in the service of Archaeology. The PyPottery example”
Lecture by L. Cardarelli at the University of Bologna on AI applications in archaeology
Butrint: crossroads of the Mediterranean. A meeting with Richard Hodges
The Sapienza Archaeological Mission in Albania, as part of the PRIN 2022 FortNet project, is pleased to host a meeting with Richard Hodges on "Butrint: crossroads of the Mediterranean", on the occasion of the author's recent publication of two volumes on the ancient site.
Participation of Nadia Aleotti in the seventh edition of the international conference IARPotHP - International Association for Research on Pottery of the Hellenistic Period: Hellenistic Pottery in Context
LAD takes part in the seventh edition of the international conference IARPotHP - International Association for Research on Pottery of the Hellenistic Period: Hellenistic Pottery in Context.
Sapienza's mission at Çuka e Ajtoit funded as part of the Grandi Scavi Sapienza programme
As of 2025, the Sapienza Archaeological Mission at Çuka e Ajtoit in Albania is funded as part of the prestigious Grandi Scavi Sapienza programme, a recognition of the excellence of the fieldwork carried out since 2021.
Notice of LAD online service interruption — 22-29 July 2025
Due to major extraordinary maintenance work on the electrical system of the INFN-LNS data centre in Catania, which hosts all of LAD's online services, a complete shutdown of the infrastructure has been scheduled for the period between 22 and 29 July 2025
Participation in the workshop “Archaeological Heritage and Cultural Landscapes. National Research and Protection Programmes and Strategies”
On 23 May, the scientific director of LAD: Laboratorio di Archeologia Digitale at Sapienza, Julian Bogdani, will take part in the round table as part of the conference “Archaeological Heritage and Cultural Landscapes. National Research and Protection Programmes and Strategies”, promoted by the Directorate-General for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape (DGABAP) of the MiC
Participation in the international conference “Forteresses, forts et camps dans l'aménagement des territoires. De la Méditerranée aux marges des royaumes perse, hellénistiques e de l'Empire romain”
On 27 and 28 May 2025, the co-director of the Italian-Albanian Archaeological Mission at Çuka e Ajtoit will take part with a paper in the international conference “Forteresses, forts et camps dans l'aménagement des territoires” at the University of Nanterre, Paris.
Cestrine in Epirus: seminar at the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa
On Monday 7 April 2025, the co-director of the Italian-Albanian Archaeological Mission at Çuka e Ajtoit, Julian Bogdani, will give a seminar at the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa entitled: “Cestrine in Epirus: myth, history and archaeology”
Participation in the international conference “Viti Arkeologjik 2024”
On Thursday 27 March 2025, the co-director of the Italian-Albanian Archaeological Mission at Çuka e Ajtoit will take part with a paper in the conference “Viti Arkeologjik 2024” at the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Albania
Laser Aided Profiler: Innovations and potential of the tool. Comparing experiences
As part of its teaching activities, LAD is organising a round table on the theme: “Laser Aided Profiler: Innovations and potential of the tool. Comparing experiences“
Registration open for the 2025 campaign of the Sapienza Archaeological Mission in Albania (June 2025)
2025 campaign of the Sapienza Archaeological Mission in Albania
Seminar by François Quantin on Franco-Albanian research at Apollonia in Illyria
The Sapienza Archaeological Mission in Albania, as part of the Classical Archaeology Seminars of the Sapienza Università di Roma Doctoral School in Archaeology, is pleased to organise a meeting with François Quantin entitled “Research at Apollonia in Illyria by the Franco-Albanian Archaeological Mission”
LAD takes part in the 2024 edition of ArcheoFOSS 2024
The 2024 edition of ArcheoFOSS 2024, the international conference on Open software, hardware, processes, data and formats in archaeological research, will be held on 19 and 20 December 2024. The eighteenth edition will take place in Chieti, at the University of Chieti-Pescara.
Panel exhibition “Sapienza in Albania. One hundred years since Luigi Maria Ugolini's first visit to the country”
Panel exhibition curated by the Sapienza Archaeological Mission in Albania, marking one hundred years since Luigi Maria Ugolini's visit to Albania
Participation in the “Third meeting: Archaeology, Identity and Conflicts in the Balkans: The case of Albania”
On Saturday 7 December 2024, from 10 AM to 2 PM, the third meeting “Archaeology, Identity and Conflicts in the Balkans: The case of Albania” will be held at INASA (Istituto Nazionale di Archeologia e Storia dell'Arte, Piazza di San Marco, 49)
Participation in the international conference “Corinth and Syracuse: Connections, Exchanges, Influences”
Nadia Aleotti takes part with a paper at the international conference “Corinth and Syracuse: Connections, Exchanges, Influences” on 5-7 December 2024
Presentation of the exhibition “Sapienza in Albania. One hundred years since Luigi Maria Ugolini's first visit to the country”
On Friday 13 December 2024, at 10:00 AM, the exhibition “Sapienza in Albania” set up at the premises of the Museo dell'Arte Classica of Sapienza will be presented in Aula Simonetti
Participation in the international conference “Butrinto Cento (1924-2024). Achievements and prospects”
The director of the Italian-Albanian Archaeological Mission (Sapienza - Albanian Institute of Archaeology) Julian Bogdani will take part in the international conference “Butrinto Cento (1924-2024). Achievements and prospects” organised by the University of Bologna and the Albanian Institute of Archaeology
Participation in the meeting ‘Cultural Connections between Italy and Albania’
The director of the Italian-Albanian Archaeological Mission (Sapienza - Albanian Institute of Archaeology) Julian Bogdani will take part in the meeting ‘Cultural Connections between Italy and Albania’
Participation in the opening event of the 14th edition of the Cerealia festival
The director of the Italian-Albanian Archaeological Mission (Sapienza - Albanian Institute of Archaeology) Julian Bogdani will take part in the opening event of the 14th edition of the Cerealia festival.
Participation in the international conference ‘Cults and rituals in caves: forms and materials from the Late Antique Mediterranean’
The director of the Italian-Albanian Archaeological Mission (Sapienza - Albanian Institute of Archaeology) Julian Bogdani will take part in the international conference ‘Cults and rituals in caves: forms and materials from the Late Antique Mediterranean’ at Sapienza Università di Roma.
Members of the Sapienza Archaeological Mission at Çuka e Ajtoit take part in the EAA 2024 international conference
Members of the Sapienza Archaeological Mission at Çuka e Ajtoit present their research at the EAA 2024 conference in Rome (28-31 August). Papers on sacred landscapes, fortified settlements and transformations in northern Epirus between the Classical and Hellenistic periods.
Participation in the international conference “Actualité de la recherche archéologique en Albanie”
The director of the Italian-Albanian Archaeological Mission (Sapienza - Albanian Institute of Archaeology), Julian Bogdani, will take part in the conference “Actualité de la recherche archéologique en Albanie” organised by E. Nallbani, F. Quantin and S. Shpuza
Participation in the conference “Signs, Texts, Data Research Routes through the Documentary Written Culture in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages”
LAD director Julian Bogdani will take part in the conference “Signs, Texts, Data Research Routes through the Documentary Written Culture in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages”
Participation in the workshop “Pilgrimage between History, Archaeology and Ethnography”
Erasmo di Fonso will take part in the workshop “Pilgrimage between History, Archaeology and Ethnography – The Sanctuaries of the Santissima Trinità di Vallepietra (Rome) and San Michele al Monte Tancia (Rieti)”
Participation in the international workshop “Current Research on Illyria and Epirus. 4th century BC – 1st century AD”
Director Julian Bogdani will take part in the international workshop “Current Research on Illyria and Epirus. 4th century BC – 1st century AD” organised by the University of Trier (Germany), 11-13 April 2024
Participation in the international conference “RAC/TRAC Conference 2024. Session “Urban Structures, Inscriptions and Interaction in Imperial Rome: new approaches”
Eleonora Iacopini and Julian Bogdani present LAD's work for the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa's InRome project at RAC/TRAC 2024 in London
Participation in the international conference “Between History and Archaeology: Corcyra and the Epeiros. New Data and Research Perspectives”
Presentation of the research of the archaeological mission at Çuka e Ajtoit at the international conference “Between History and Archaeology: Corcyra and the Epeiros. New Data and Research Perspectives”
Participation in the international conference “Arkeologjia shqiptare në 75-vjetorin e krijimit të saj: arritje, risi dhe perspektiva”
Participation of the Mission directors, Albana Meta and Julian Bogdani, in the international conference “Arkeologjia shqiptare në 75-vjetorin e krijimit të saj: arritje, risi dhe perspektiva”
LAD takes part in the sixth international conference of “The International Association for Research on Pottery of the Hellenistic Period”
Julian Bogdani and Nadia Aleotti take part in the sixth meeting of The International Association for Research on Pottery of the Hellenistic Period
Sapienza's mission at Çuka e Ajtoit officially funded by MAECI
The archaeological mission at Çuka e Ajtoit is operating in 2023 with the official recognition and financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Digital and Urban Archaeology: from Urban Archaeology to Digital Archaeology
On 3 May 2023, as part of the 'Landscape Archaeology' course of the Scuola di Specializzazione in Beni Archeologici 2022-2023 at the University of Bologna, the activities of LAD: Laboratorio di Archeologia Digitale at Sapienza will be presented
Text / Image interfaces in ancient cultures
The director of LAD: Laboratorio di Archeologia Digitale at Sapienza will take part in the workshop “Text / Image interfaces in ancient cultures. Theoretical, methodological, and practical approaches to the combined analysis of textual and visual evidence” to be held at L'Orientale University of Naples, on 13 April 2022.
Digital Archaeology Bern: advancing open research into the next decade
Julian Bogdani takes part in the international conference “Digital Archaeology Bern: advancing open research into the next decade”
Laboratorio di Risorse Digitali per la Ricerca
Laboratorio di Risorse Digitali per la Ricerca — Experiences and Projects curated by Julian Bogdani and Federica Favino. DigiLab - Vetrerie Sciarra - Via dei Volsci, 122. Conference room (first floor) - 1-3 PM...
Workshop: Beyond the Wall: City Walls & Urban planning
Julian Bogdani takes part in the international workshop “Beyond the Wall: City Walls & Urban planning”
Epirus in the Roman World and the New Research on the Acropolis of Butrint by the Albanian Institute of Archaeology and the University of Bologna
Presentation of the Çuka e Ajtoit project at the conference “Epirus in the Roman World and the New Research on the Acropolis of Butrint by the Albanian Institute of Archaeology and the University of Bologna”
Participation in the 2022 campaign of the Sapienza Archaeological Mission in Sudan
LAD is taking part in the activities of the 2022 campaign of the Sapienza Archaeological Mission in Sudan, directed by Prof. Paola Buzi
Landscape Archaeology: a discussion between the new paradigms of methodology
Conference: “Landscape Archaeology: a discussion between the new paradigms of methodology”
International ArcheoFOSS Conference: 22-23 September 2022
On Thursday 22 and Friday 23 September 2022, the sixteenth edition of the International ArcheoFOSS Conference will take place: Open software, hardware, processes, data and formats in the archaeological research.
Conference “Aerial Archaeology 2022: The Invisible Cities”, Lecce, 19-21 May 2022
“Landscape: a synthesis of diachronic elements” is an initiative launched by PhD students in Ancient Topography and related fields, in synergy with the Consulta di Topografia Antica, with the aim of connecting young researchers working on topics relating to landscape, cities and the environment in antiquity, in order to stimulate the circulation and exchange of ideas on these themes
Sapienza's mission at Çuka e Ajtoit officially recognised by MAECI
The archaeological mission at Çuka e Ajtoit will operate in 2022 with the official recognition of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Conference “Landscape 3: a synthesis of diachronic elements”, Bologna-Ravenna, 5-6 May 2022
“Landscape: a synthesis of diachronic elements” is an initiative launched by PhD students in Ancient Topography and related fields, in synergy with the Consulta di Topografia Antica, with the aim of connecting young researchers working on topics relating to landscape, cities and the environment in antiquity, in order to stimulate the circulation and exchange of ideas on these themes
Digital Archaeology 2022: theory, methodologies, data, tools. Disordered notes to make sense of it all
Open meeting on the theme of Digital Archaeology 2022 at the Scuola di Specializzazione in Archeologia of the Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
Collaborative annotation now enabled for the LAD blog
As of today, LAD blog articles can be annotated openly and collaboratively, thanks to the implementation of the Hypothesis client
Conference: SITAR 2007-2022. 15 years of the project serving the archaeology of Rome
Registration is now open for the digital archaeology teaching labs for the 2021-2022 academic year. Three modules are available this year: Basic GIS, Web Databases and Advanced GIS. Due to space constraints, the lab has a limited number of places.
The “call for panels” for ArcheoFOSS 2022 is now open!
The “call for panels” for the sixteenth edition of ArcheoFOSS is now open. The conference will be hosted by Sapienza Università di Roma on 22-24 September 2022, in collaboration with Sapienza's Digilab Interdepartmental Research Centre.
Launch of the RDR Lab: Laboratorio di Risorse Digitali per la Ricerca
As part of the PhD programme in History, Anthropology and Religions at Sapienza Università di Roma, starting on 7 March 2022 the RDR Lab (Laboratorio di Risorse Digitali per la Ricerca — Digital Research Resources Lab) will be launched.
BDUS v4.0.0 released
Version 4 has finally been released and the good ol’ version 3 has been deprecated after 8 years of distinguished service. While common ysers will notice only minor graphical changes, an almost total rewrite of the project is done under the hood.
Automated tests are now available for BDUS v4
Finally, thanks to the help of Domizia D'Erasmo, a new set of fully automated unit tests have been written for bdus4. These tests cover the entire lifecyce of the application, from the creation from scratch of a new aplication, to the configuration and data entry.
Migration towards v4: a roadmap and guide
Version 4 is an almost total rewrite of the previous glorious version 3 that has been around since 2013. In these many years multiple features have been added and many buges have been fixed, making v3 extremly stable and reliable.
