VIRTUAL RECONSTRUCTIONS IN ARCHAEOLOGY AND SOME ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION Stella Sylaiou, Petros Patias ABSTRACT In this article we will examine the current role of virtual reconstructions in archaeology. They provide a non-destructive means of exploring an archaeological model of an archaeological site, or a complex of monuments or even cultural objects. Not only their contribution to the archaeological research and in the understanding of the past from the wide public, but also some criticisms against them will be discussed. Furthermore, some ideas about the future work that can be undertaken will be presented Computer reconstructions in archaeology Computer reconstruction in Archaeology is not something new. Some of the first archaeological computer reconstructions can be dated in the early eighties. The term "Virtual Archaeology" that refers to the use of Virtual Reality for archaeological research (Reilly, 1990; Barcelo et al., 2000) has been mentioned since the 1990s. Virtual Archaeology is related to three-dimensional computer reconstructions of archaeological interest. By the term 'archaeological computer reconstructions' we refer to the use of 2D and 3D computer models of monuments, excavations, landscapes and artifacts, made by graphic programs, such as AutoCAD, 3D Studio Max, Maya, Microstation. In recent years the developments of the computer graphic programs have provided the archaeologists with very powerful tools for the visualization of various sights of different ancient cultures. The reconstructions of archaeological sites can offer to specialists, students and tourists ideas about the lives and the civilizations of earlier cultures. The archaeological data about them may be complicated, unclear, clouded for the human mind. However, with the aid of computer reconstructions a good opportunity is offered to reconstruct and visualize aspects, features of the data that otherwise would be difficult or even impossible to understand. The interactive models can be in a portable format on DVDs or CD-ROMs, in the World Wide Web or in an immersive virtual environment, such as the CAVE of the Foundation of the Hellenic World (Sideris, 2003). This domain of virtual archaeological research aims to mimic 'real' space as closely as possible (Feiner et al.). When the archaeologists succeed in connecting archaeology and the potential of the graphic programs, they can produce remarkable three-dimensional computer reconstructions. Literally said, the computer reconstructions in the case of archaeology 'put the flesh in the bones'. It is beyond the scope of this paper to carry out details concerning the methodology that is used for the creation of 3D models. However, a brief presentation of them is useful. Three-dimensional reconstructions entail the creation of a virtual model, by using computer graphic programs.