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The article describes female terracotta figurines found in the archaeological sites of Southern Turkmenistan. The author describes the history of the study, decorative features, purposes of manufacture and use by the ancient population of these finds. People of the Bronze Age saw gods in female terracotta figurines and made them in various ways. The image on the terracotta figurines of several symbols shows that a woman is connected with the natural world, i.e. she is an image of the fertility Goddess. The unique decoration of products by local sculptors increases the value of terracotta figurines in antiquity study of the material and spiritual culture. This indicates that the female terracotta of the Bronze Age is an important archaeological source for in-depth study of ancient Turkmenistan history.

Thanks to recent technological developments in 3D surveys, computer graphics and virtual reality, new scenarios have been opened for the documentation and enhancement of ancient sculptures. When not totally preserved, sculptures can be digitally reproduced, modified and visualized to simulate their physical or virtual reconstruction in a non-invasive way for specialists or for dissemination aims. The virtual sculptural reconstruction process starts usually from the 3D survey of real fragments, and then continues by integrating missing parts with 3D modelling techniques by means of source evaluation. Along with primary data sources (reality-based model), secondary data sources (photos, drawings and 3D models of similar sculptures) can be directly used in the reconstruction process. This approach has a double advantage of making the reconstruction activities easier and less arbitrary, contributing to a decrease in the degree of uncertainty for the sculptural reconstruction work, also thanks to many iconographic comparisons to ancient copies. Moreover, virtual reconstruction can be easily visualized alongside a scalable rendering system using open-source Web3D apps and platforms, accessing information, 3D models and descriptions in order to enhance the experience of artworks. Inspecting theoretical and technical approaches, this work aims at establishing how primary and secondary data sources can be effectively used in sculptural reconstruction workflows, and how 3D outputs can be applied to implement digital sculptural heritage exploitation for museums and cultural institutions. The statues of Aesculapius and Hygeia from the sanctuary of Isis in Lilybaeum (Marsala, Italy) were chosen as a case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thanks to recent technological developments in 3D surveys, computer graphics and virtual reality, new scenarios have been opened for the documentation and enhancement of ancient sculptures. When not totally preserved, sculptures can be digitally reproduced, modified and visualized to simulate their physical or virtual reconstruction in a non-invasive way for specialists or for dissemination aims. The virtual sculptural reconstruction process starts usually from the 3D survey of real fragments, and then continues by integrating missing parts with 3D modelling techniques by means of source evaluation. Along with primary data sources (reality-based model), secondary data sources (photos, drawings and 3D models of similar sculptures) can be directly used in the reconstruction process. This approach has a double advantage of making the reconstruction activities easier and less arbitrary, contributing to a decrease in the degree of uncertainty for the sculptural reconstruction work, also thanks to many iconographic comparisons to ancient copies. Moreover, virtual reconstruction can be easily visualized alongside a scalable rendering system using open-source Web3D apps and platforms, accessing information, 3D models and descriptions in order to enhance the experience of artworks. Inspecting theoretical and technical approaches, this work aims at establishing how primary and secondary data sources can be effectively used in sculptural reconstruction workflows, and how 3D outputs can be applied to implement digital sculptural heritage exploitation for museums and cultural institutions. The statues of Aesculapius and Hygeia from the sanctuary of Isis in Lilybaeum (Marsala, Italy) were chosen as a case study.

Based on archival documents, the article gives information on the origin of ancient sculptures located in the area of the Faculty of arts of the Masaryk university in Brno and coming from Kyme in Asia minor. The author analyses circumstances of the transformation of its plaster replicas from Prague to Brno, where they have been placed in the "Exposition of contemporary culture in the Czechoslovakia" in the year 1928, and the role of professor A. Salač in this process.