Surfaced—The Digital Pile Dwellings

A digital revolution is unlocking Austria's hidden UNESCO-listed pile dwellings, preserving 7000 years of submerged and bog-buried heritage. The project 'Surfaced—the Digital Pile Dwellings' has digitized 500 high-resolution artefacts from five sites, transforming them into interactive 3D models accessible via the open-access web application PfahlbauKompass. This innovative approach bridges physical inaccessibility with virtual exploration, offering unprecedented access to finds from national museums, regional heritage houses, and private collections. Beyond archiving, it serves as a platform for scientific research, virtual exhibitions, and educational initiatives, significantly enhancing public awareness of these underwater archaeological treasures.

Leipold, F., Seidl da Fonseca, H., Dworsky, C., & Weßling, R. (2025). Surfaced—The Digital Pile Dwellings. Heritage, 8(5), 145. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage8050145