Laura Schepis is an archaeologist and heritage scientist specialising in virtual restoration, virtual archaeology and non-invasive archaeometric diagnostics. She graduated in Conservation and Restoration Technologies from the University of Salento in 2014, completing a thesis in Applied Physics focusing on Raman spectroscopy applied to the analysis of ceramic decoration. She subsequently obtained a Master’s degree in Cultural Heritage Diagnostics (University of Salento, 2018), with research on the Roman imperial domus in Marsala, and a Master’s degree in Classical Archaeology (University of Palermo, 2021), focusing on the House of Masks in Solunto. She obtained a PhD in Cultural Sciences (Cultural Heritage curriculum) from the University of Palermo with a thesis dedicated to innovative methodologies for the contextual study and virtual reconstruction of Solunto’s decorative systems. Since 2025, she has been affiliated with the University of Palermo as a Subject Expert in Virtual Archaeology.
Her research interests focus on the integration of digital technologies and archaeological investigation, in particular 3D photogrammetric surveying, UAV/SAPR acquisition, multispectral imaging, Raman spectroscopy, XRF and SEM-EDS analysis. She is particularly involved in the virtual restoration of ancient wall paintings, mosaics and stuccoes, and the virtual reconstruction of architectural contexts. Her work also explores immersive technologies and interactive environments for the dissemination of cultural heritage, accessibility and public engagement. Through a multidisciplinary approach, she combines archaeological research, conservation science and digital visualisation to investigate and communicate ancient material culture.
Laura Schepis has participated in numerous Italian and international archaeological missions and research projects in the Mediterranean and the Near East, including projects in Sicily, Greece, Turkey, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Iraq and Bahrain. She collaborates with various academic and cultural institutions, including the University of Palermo, La Sapienza University of Rome, the University of Zurich, New York University and the German Archaeological Institute in Rome. Her work encompasses digital surveying, virtual restoration, architectural documentation and the development of multimedia and immersive applications for museums and archaeological parks. She has also contributed to teaching at the University of Palermo, particularly in advanced techniques of virtual restoration and digital communication.
Among her most significant publications are the monograph Oltre la materia: Introduzione al restauro virtuale (Palermo University Press, 2025) and the co-authored volume Virtual Restoration 3.1: Principles and Methods for the Virtual Archaeological Reconstruction of Ancient Monuments (L’Erma di Bretschneider, 2024). She is the author and co-author of numerous articles and conference proceedings on archaeological diagnostics, digital reconstruction and virtual restoration methodologies, published in journals and edited volumes such as Mare Internum, Archaeofauna, FastiOnline and Elymos. Her research has also been regularly presented at major international conferences, including the AIPMA congresses dedicated to ancient mural painting and studies on archaeological heritage.
