From Artificial to Zooarchaeology

FromAtoZ – From Artificial to Zooarchaeology: an innovative approach to bone refitting methodology using Artificial Intelligence Algorithms and Computed Tomography is a research project led by the archaeozoologist Marta Modolo at the Department of Cultural and Environmental Heritage of the Università degli Studi di Milano.

The project is funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) through the PNRR Young Researchers 2024 programme – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions line. It builds upon a research trajectory developed through a previous Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship, during which bone refitting emerged as a particularly promising field for integrating archaeological research and digital technologies.

A new approach to fragmented archaeological remains

Archaeological faunal assemblages often contain thousands of fragmented bones. Identifying fragments that originally belonged to the same skeletal element can reveal valuable information about human activities, fragmentation processes, the spatial organisation of archaeological deposits and the formation history of a site. However, when undertaken manually, systematic refitting is exceptionally demanding and is rarely applicable to large assemblages.

FromAtoZ investigates how Computed Tomography, three-dimensional modelling, geometric analysis, Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence can support this work. Its purpose is not to replace archaeological expertise, but to develop digital tools that assist specialists in identifying potential matches and examining fragmented materials more systematically, reproducibly, and non-invasively.

The project integrates zooarchaeology, taphonomy, digital imaging and computational research within a shared scientific framework. Archaeological interpretation remains central throughout the research process, from the selection and documentation of materials to the validation and interpretation of results.

Principal Investigator

Marta Modolo is an archaeozoologist whose research focuses on faunal remains, bone fragmentation and refitting, taphonomic processes and the application of digital technologies to archaeological research.

As Principal Investigator, she is responsible for the scientific direction and coordination of FromAtoZ, the study of the archaeological assemblages and the integration of zooarchaeological evidence with the project’s imaging and computational components.

Institutional setting

FromAtoZ is hosted at the Department of Cultural and Environmental Heritage of the Università degli Studi di Milano, where it contributes to the development of an interdisciplinary research line in digital zooarchaeology and creates opportunities for scientific collaboration, methodological exchange and student training.

Additional support provided by the Università degli Studi di Milano through its 2025 Research Support Plan – PSR 2025, Linea 4, contributes to the project's implementation and development.

FromAtoZ also relies on a broader network of institutional and scientific collaborations. These partnerships provide access to archaeological collections and combine complementary expertise in heritage protection, zooarchaeology, three-dimensional imaging, mathematics, Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence. They are presented in the dedicated Research Network and Collaborations section.

The project is made possible by the institutions and people who have given its research questions the necessary space, resources and trust to develop.

What is Zooarchaeology?

Zooarchaeology is the study of animal remains from archaeological contexts. Through the identification and analysis bones and teeth, teeth and other faunal remains, zooarchaeologists investigate the relationships between past human communities, animals and their environments.

Faunal assemblages can provide evidence of subsistence strategies, hunting, animal management, food processing and the organisation of human activities. Their interpretation also considers biological, anthropogenic and environmental processes that affected remains before and after their deposition.

Bone refitting

Bone refitting involves identifying and reconnecting fragments that originally belonged to the same skeletal element. These connections can support anatomical and taxonomic identification, improve the quantitative assessment of faunal assemblages and contribute to the reconstruction of fragmentation and depositional processes.

When the spatial and stratigraphic provenance of the fragments is known, refits may also reveal relationships between different areas of a site, movements of archaeological material, and the integrity of individual deposits.

Despite its scientific value, conventional bone refitting is extremely demanding. Archaeological assemblages may contain thousands of fragments, making systematic comparison time-consuming, space-intensive and difficult to apply on a large scale.

Research questions

FromAtoZ investigates whether digital technologies can make bone refitting more efficient, reproducible and applicable to larger archaeological assemblages.

The project examines three principal questions:

• Can virtual methods support the identification of potential connections among fragmented animal bones?

• Can high-quality three-dimensional documentation improve the accuracy, traceability and reproducibility of bone analysis?

• Can digitally assisted refitting contribute to broader archaeological interpretations concerning taphonomy, site formation, spatial organisation and past human behaviour?

An integrated approach

FromAtoZ combines zooarchaeological and taphonomic analyses with Computed Tomography, high-resolution 3D modelling, geometric analysis, Computer Vision and Machine Learning.

Computed Tomography and other digital acquisition techniques enable detailed virtual representations of archaeological specimens while limiting repeated handling of fragile original materials. Three-dimensional models allow fragments to be documented, measured, compared and examined in a controlled digital environment.

Computational methods are used to support the recognition of potentially compatible fragments and to organise comparisons across large datasets. Their purpose is to assist the research process, not to produce autonomous archaeological interpretations.

Every proposed refit must therefore be evaluated in relation to bone morphology, preservation, taphonomic evidence and archaeological context. Zooarchaeological expertise remains central to the validation and interpretation of the results.

Reproducibility and preservation

The digital approach adopted by FromAtoZ is designed to improve the documentation and traceability of bone-refitting research. Virtual models can preserve information about fragile specimens, record alternative reconstruction hypotheses and facilitate scientific comparison without requiring the continuous movement or physical manipulation of original remains.

The project also promotes responsible data management, reproducible research, and the long-term scientific value of digital archaeological documentation.

FromAtoZ applies its methodology to faunal assemblages from two archaeological contexts: the Aisone Caves in Piedmont and Paludi di Celano in Abruzzo.

The two case studies differ in chronology, environmental setting, excavation history and taphonomic conditions. Their comparison enables an assessment of the applicability of digitally assisted bone refitting to collections with different preservation characteristics.

The analysis of the two assemblages is not simply an application of different collections; their contrasting archaeological and taphonomic characteristics allow FromAtoZ to examine the conditions under which digitally assisted refitting can produce reliable and archaeologically meaningful results. This comparative framework is essential for assessing the methodology's broader applicability and for distinguishing context-specific evidence from patterns that may be observed across different archaeological settings.

Grotte di Aisone

The complex of Aisone caves is located in the Stura Valley, province of Cuneo, Piedmont. Archaeological investigations are led by Professor Umberto Tecchiati with the support from PrEcLab, the Laboratory of Prehistory, Protohistory and Prehistoric Ecology of the Department of Cultural and Environmental Heritage at the Università degli Studi di Milano.

The archaeological campaigns conducted between 2023 and 2025 at Riparo 10 and Riparo 19 produced a substantial faunal assemblage comprising approximately 6,000 fragments. These remains constitute the first archaeological collection examined by  FromAtoZ.

The study integrates zooarchaeological identification, taphonomic analysis and bone refitting with digital documentation. It investigates the processes responsible for the fragmentation and modification of the assemblage and examines how connections between fragments can inform the interpretation of human activities and post-depositional processes.

The Aisone material provides an important context for developing and evaluating the integration of conventional zooarchaeological analysis with the digital approach proposed by the project. 

Paludi di Celano

Paludi di Celano is located in the Fucino basin, in the province of l'Aquila, in Abruzzo. Its archaeological sequence spans the Bronze Age to the Roman period, with particularly significant evidence during the protohistoric occupation of the area.

Excavations conducted between 1985 and 1998 revealed settlement and funerary evidence, together with an exceptional concentration of preserved wooden structural remains. The excavation campaigns directed by Dr Vincenzo D'Ercole, involved archaeologists, specialists and field teams whose work made the identification, documentation and scientific study of the site possible.

Research on the site was subsequently developed through contributions from scholars including Dr Serena Cosentino, Dr Gianfranco Mieli and Dr Oliva Menozzi. The pioneering archaeozoological studies of the faunal assemblage were undertaken by Professor Jacopo De Grossi Mazzorin.

More than three decades after the principal investigations and initial publications, FromAtoZ is beginning a new phase in the study of the faunal remains. The project builds on the results and documentation produced by previous research, applying new analytical and digital perspectives to the assemblage.

The study is made possible by a collaboration agreement between the Università degli Studi di Milano, represented by its Rector, and the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the provinces of L'Aquila and Teramo, with authorisation from the Direzione Generale Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio.

FromAtoZ is built on a network of institutional and scientific partnerships archaeology, cultural heritage protection, digital imaging, mathematics, Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence. Each collaboration brings specific expertise while keeping archaeological interpretation at the centre of the research process.

University of Minnesota

An international collaboration with the University of Minnesota provides a framework for exchanging and analysing digital research materials, including CT data, three-dimensional models, meshes, datasets and computational workflows.

The collaboration brings together expertise in zooarchaeology, taphonomy, archaeological experimentation, differential geometry, applied mathematics, Machine Learning and Computer Vision. Its purpose is to explore new approaches to analysing and digitally compare fragmented archaeological bones, promoting methodological exchange and reproducible research across disciplines.

The Minnesota-led scientific team includes Dr Katrina Yezzi-Woodley, Gilbert Tostevin, Peter Olver and Jeffrey Calder from the University of Minnesota, together with Anthony Yezzi from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

University of Udine and AI4CH

A technical-scientific agreement between the Università degli Studi di Milano and the Università degli Studi di Udine supports the development of the computational component of FromAtoZ.

The collaboration brings together the Department of Cultural and Environmental Heritage at UNIMI and the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics at UNIUD, together with and the AI4CH – Artificial Intelligence for Cultural Heritage.

The expertise in Computer Vision and Artificial Intelligence of Prof Gian Luca Foresti and Dr Ivan Scagnetto, of Udine University, will help to develop a computational workflow for analysing and digitally compare 3D models of fragmented bones. Archaeozoological assessment remains essential for the scientific validation and the interpretation of potential matches identified through computational analysis.

PrEcLab and the Aisone Caves

The study of Aisone Cave's faunal assemblage is closely connected to the archaeological research conducted by PrEcLab – Laboratory of Prehistory, Protohistory and Prehistoric Ecology (Department of Cultural and Environmental Heritage, Università degli Studi di Milano).

Archaeological investigations at the site are directed by Professor Umberto Tecchiati, with the support of the PrEcLab team. The collaboration connects fieldwork, contextual archaeological documentation and laboratory research, providing the essential scientific framework for the zooarchaeological and taphonomic study of the faunal remains.

Heritage protection and Paludi di Celano

Research on the faunal assemblage from Paludi di Celano is made possible by a collaboration agreement between the Università degli Studi di Milano, represented by its Rector, and the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the provinces of L’Aquila and Teramo, authorised by the Direzione Generale Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio in Rome.

This institutional collaboration enables the scientific study of protected archaeological materials within FromAtoZ while ensuring their documentation, traceability and preservation. It forms an essential connection between academic research and the institutions responsible for safeguarding Italy’s archaeological heritage.

The agreement and the resulting research opportunity were made possible by the commitment, cooperation and confidence of Dr Massimo Sericola, Superintendent for the provinces of L'Aquila and Teramo; Dr Emanuela Ceccaroni, archaeologist at the Soprintendenza; and Dr Federica Pitzalis of Service II, U.O. 5, at the Direzione Generale Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio, the unit responsible for Abruzzo.

Dissemination and public engagement are integral to FromAtoZ. The project's communication strategy aims to make its objectives, activities and results accessible to specialist and non-specialist audiences, strengthening the connection between archaeological research, education, innovation and society.

Scientific dissemination includes peer-reviewed Open Access publications, presentations at national and international conferences, workshops and exchanges involving the archaeological and computational research communities. Public communication is delivered through the project website, social media, institutional communication channels, interviews, audiovisual content, public events and educational activities.

These initiatives aim to raise awareness of the value of archaeological faunal remains, encourage cross-disciplinary and cross-institutional dialogue and promote a broader understanding of how digital technologies can contribute to the study and preservation of cultural heritage.

The dissemination strategy also adheres the principles of Open Science, responsible research and inclusive communication. Its implementation and reach are monitored throughout the project using scientific outputs, event participation, media coverage, website access and social media engagement.

Scientific outputs and presentations

P:ANIS: The Last Slice. New research on the recent prehistory of Northern Italy: environment, resources and economy

Dr Marta Modolo and Prof Umberto Tecchiati, FromAtoZ: Integrated methods for the study of bone materials from the Aisone Caves. Poster presented at the final conference of the PRIN P project, Museo di Storia Naturale di Verona, 21–22 August 2026.

Dissemination and public engagement

Website audience

The project website provides access to FromAtoZ’s objectives, methods, archaeological case studies, collaborations and research outputs. Website analytics are used to monitor the geographical distribution of its online audience.

Facebook performance and engagement

The Facebook page documents the project's development through research updates, collaborations, archaeological case studies, and audiovisual content.

• 123,334 impressions (the total number of times the content was shown; the same person may generate more than one impression);

• 104,912 content views (the total number of times the content was viewed);

• 8,761 interactions (actions taken on the content, such as reactions, comments, shares and other forms of engagement);

• 281 net new followers (new followers gained during the period, minus those who unfollowed the page).

Taken together, these figures show that the visibility generated by the page is accompanied by substantial content consumption and measurable active engagement. The volume of content views corresponds to approximately 85.1% of impressions.

Interactions amount to approximately 7,1% of impressions and 8.4% of content views. In practical terms, for every 100 impressions recorded by the platform, there were approximately 85 content views and 7 interactions; for every 100 content views, there were approximately 8 interactions. These ratios provide an accessible indication of how exposure to the project's content is accompanied not only by viewing, but also by active responses such as reactions, comments and shares.

The 281 net new followers also indicate positive audience growth over the reporting period, showing that the page is not only generating activity around individual pieces of content but is also gradually expanding its continuing audience.