Alex da Silva Martire

Alex Martire is an Adjunct Professor of Archaeology at the Federal University of Rio Grande (FURG) and a pioneer in Cyber-Archaeology in Brazil. His work integrates digital technologies such as interactive simulations, 3D modeling, Virtual and Augmented Reality, and video games to recreate and interpret complex historical contexts. During his masters (2009-2012) at the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology of USP, he researched Roman mining in the Iberian Peninsula using innovative digital methods to visualize ancient mining practices and their socioeconomic impacts.In his doctorate (2012-2017), funded by FAPESP, he expanded the use of Cyber-Archaeology at Roman Vipasca, in Aljustrel, Portugal. He developed the Vipasca Antiga application, an interactive simulation of the Roman mining area, enabling virtual exploration of the site and an understanding of its spatial and functional organization. This project showcased digital tools for accessible archaeological knowledge dissemination.Post-doctorally, he worked at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA) on digital interactivity and simulations for Brazilian historical archaeology and at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) on Antarctic Archaeology, focusing on how extreme environments affect preservation and material culture. Digital technologies were used to document and analyze remote sites in Antarctica.As coordinator of the ARISE Research Group (Interactive Archaeology and Electronic Simulations - MAE-USP/FURG), he explores virtual environments and video games as research and dissemination platforms. In Archaeogaming, he studies how video games can analyze digital cultures and social interactions, bridging past and present.Martire developed two significant educational games: "The Last Banquet in Herculaneum" and "Sambaquis A History Before Brazil." The first simulates an interactive experience in Herculaneum before Vesuvius erupted, while the second explores the pre-colonial sambaqui peoples of Brazil's coast. Both games are integrated into the São Paulo school curriculum, highlighting digital platforms' educational potential in history and archaeology.His research covers themes such as Contemporary Archaeology, Digital Archaeology, Cyber-Archaeology, Virtual and Augmented Reality, 3D Printing, and the intersections between material and digital culture. He examines how 3D printing can recreate historical artifacts and archaeological structures from digital models, enabling these objects to be studied and displayed in academic and exhibition settings. Martire regularly presents at national and international academic events, demonstrating how rigorous research combined with technological innovation can transform understanding and communication of the past, providing new tools to explore and preserve cultural heritage. (Source: Lattes Curriculum)