Multimedia experiences for inclusive communication of archaeological heritage

The museums, sites and collections closed due to Covid-19 have highlighted the importance of heritage not only for cultural learning but also for the well-being of people. The impact of the Pandemic on cultural heritage and on archaeological heritage in particular, offers an opportunity to reflect on the effectiveness of communication systems. The accessibility of archaeological heritage is particularly complex, and the visit is a key element of its use. However, it has to be said that archaeological sites and museums have long been a privileged field of experimentation with multimedia products and digital reconstructions. These, however, were only proposed and integrated into the visit itinerary or used in cases of particular interest and exceptionality for mass dissemination purposes. The pandemic has made it essential to rethink the way in which the cultural content of heritage is constructed, shared and enjoyed. Digital technologies have proved indispensable to create new virtual spaces in which cultural sharing, even if not enjoyed, continues to be alive and engaging. The paper aims to analyze what has been done by archaeological sites and museum institutions by comparing the different experiences and analyzing the changes between before and post lockdown. The analysis will examine the communication tools used but, above all, the contents transmitted, focusing on multimedia digitalization as an indispensable tool for inclusive communication.