Unveiling the Hidden Contexts of Magna Graecia's Artefacts...

PROVENANCES

PROVEN ANcient Contexts as Education Strategy


An interdisciplinary initiative to trace the origins and cultural significance of ancient artefacts
through innovative research methodologies and AI technologies

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but plenty of images...

The PROVENANCES project aims to bridge the gap in research on artefacts discovered over the past three centuries by implementing innovative methodologies and AI technologies. By leveraging unpublished archival sources, the project seeks to restore the provenance and findspot of contextless artefacts from pre-Roman Magna Graecia, thereby redefining iconography analysis and cultural context interpretation. With a focus on Southern Italy, particularly Cumae, Poseidonia-Paestum, and Daunia, the project will develop digital tools and AI models to analyse and present artefacts’ provenance, culminating in an interactive digital roadmap platform for scholarly research, public outreach, and educational purposes.
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Team Members

Profile photo of Florence Le Bars-Tosi

Florence Le Bars-Tosi is an Associate Professor in Archaeology and Art History of the Classical World at the University of Lille. She holds a PhD in History and Archaeology of Ancient Worlds from Paris Ouest Nanterre University and has extensive experience in teaching and research, specializing in Classical Studies and the Archaeology of Magna Graecia. Florence has authored many publications and participated in numerous international conferences. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates historical investigation with archaeological and iconographic analysis, contributing significantly to the understanding of ancient societies. Florence also leads major research projects and collaborates with various institutions across Europe.

Profile photo of Chenye (Peter) SHI

Chenye (Peter) Shi is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the laboratory of HALMA at the University of Lille. He holds a PhD in Classics from Stanford University, where he focused on social capital and economic accessibility in Byzantine villages. With expertise in papyrology, Roman economic history, and AI applications in historical research, Peter has authored several scholarly articles and presented at international conferences. Currently, he is working on the Aphrodito Online project at Collège de France, where he manages databases, edits papyri, and develops AI projects for papyrus transcription.