On Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 May 2026, EXCALIBUR partners gathered in the historic city of Paphos, Cyprus, for the critical Use Case 1 (UC1) Visit and Consortium Meeting. Co-organized by ICOMOS Cyprus and the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence (ECOE), this hybrid event successfully brought technical partners and heritage stakeholders together to bridge the gap between ancient history and digital innovation.
Day 1: On-Site Risk Assessment at the Tombs of the Kings
The meeting kicked off at the iconic Tombs of the Kings archaeological site, a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site steeped in ancient history. This monumental site is famously believed to include the tomb of a Ptolemy of Cyprus, the uncle of Cleopatra. Participants had the distinct honor of being guided across the grounds by Dr. Sophocles Hadjisavvas, the Honorary Director of the Department of Antiquities and original excavator of the site. Dr. Hadjisavvas provided invaluable historical and archaeological background, sharing insights into excavation findings and the site’s immense cultural significance.
Following the historical overview, the consortium conducted a comprehensive technical walkthrough. The focus was on identifying priority cultural heritage risks, examining tomb structures, and evaluating environmental deterioration caused by factors such as erosion, exposure, and human impact. This hands-on assessment allowed partners to directly discuss data gaps, existing documentation, and the precise datasets, including 3D scanning and environmental data, needed for upcoming toolkit implementations.
In the afternoon, the venue shifted to the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT), where technical discussions officially began. The consortium explored several of EXCALIBUR’s innovative toolkits designed to safeguard cultural heritage, including:
- TK2: A risk mapping toolkit for tracking material degradation.
- TK4 & TK5: An empowered chatbot and advanced AI solutions for cultural heritage knowledge.
- TK6: A collaborative excavation XR diary set within a virtual world.
- TK8: An empowered toolkit providing smart assistance for planning, safeguarding, and decision-making.
To mark the closing of the first day, Dr. Sophocles Hadjisavvas graciously signed and gifted each partner an advance copy of his soon-to-be-published new book, “Tombs of the Kings, the Ptolemaic Necropolis of Pafos (Volume I. Excavation Sessions 1977-1981)”.
Day 2: Translating Insights into Smart Heritage Solutions
The second day shifted focus toward museum preservation and technical alignment. The morning began with a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Paphos, featuring a collaborative discussion with a representative from the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus. Partners spent the remainder of the day aligning implementation timelines and technical responsibilities based on the real-world observations gathered from the pilot sites. The sessions centered around refining additional core EXCALIBUR toolkits:
- TK9: Multimodal semantic data fusion systems
- TK10: An interoperable, human-centered platform to upload and update cultural assets
- TK11 & TK12: An ethnographic storyliving experiences creator for virtual worlds alongside an advanced digitization and interpretation XR toolkit
As the technical sessions and site visits concluded, the EXCALIBUR consortium expressed its deep appreciation for the intense efforts, timely organization, and warm hospitality provided by the local partners, the ERATOSTHENES Centre of Excellence (ECoE) and ICOMOS Cyprus. Their dedication and meticulous planning were instrumental in ensuring the overwhelming success of the pilot visit.
Looking Ahead
The successful Use Case 1 Visit and Consortium Meeting in Paphos marked an important step forward for EXCALIBUR. Through direct engagement with heritage sites, experts and technical partners, the project strengthened its shared understanding of the challenges facing burial heritage and advanced the definition of requirements for the next stages of toolkit development.