Tilos Launches New App and Platform for its Paleontological Museum

Skeletal remains of prehistoric dwarf elephants. Photo source: Tilos Municipality

The Municipality of Tilos in the Dodecanese is advancing the digitalization of the Paleontological Museum of Tilos, aiming to highlight its unique artifacts and its role as a hub for alternative tourism.

Dubbed “Digital promotion of the geocultural heritage of Tilos“, the project has been approved by the South Aegean Region and will be co-funded with 280,000 euros from the European Regional Development Fund.

As part of this project, a new platform and application will be developed to present findings of significant historical and geological value (skeletal remains of prehistoric dwarf elephants and deer) to a global audience, highlighting their paleogeographic evolution and the migration routes of prehistoric species to the island.

Tilos is a lesser-known island in the Dodecanese archipelago of Greece, nestled between Rhodes and Kos. The island’s prehistoric past, especially its connection to the dwarf elephants, makes it a unique destination for those interested in paleontology and early human history. Tilos is also home to fascinating archaeological sites, such as the ruins of a medieval castle in Mikro Chorio.

Utilizing technology to promote Tilos’ history

According to the municipality, the initiative aims to address past gaps in promoting Tilos’ rich cultural heritage, attract more visitors to the museum, and enhance its tourism experience. To achieve these goals, the strategy includes:

• Leveraging cutting-edge technologies to digitally represent the island’s geomorphological evolution over tens or even hundreds of thousands of years
• Creating a modern web platform
• Developing a digital application that offers virtual tours of the Paleontological Museum of Tilos

Photo source: Tilos Municipality

Modern technologies, including digital tour features for Android and iOS devices and augmented reality environments will deliver rich and diverse content such as texts, narratives, videos, design illustrations, 3D representations, augmented reality visualizations, audio descriptions, and vulnerability maps.

In this way, researchers, students, history enthusiasts, residents, tourists, and individuals with disabilities will have the opportunity to digitally explore the museum’s collections and spaces, gaining direct access to the island’s rich geo-cultural heritage.