The Fourth-Century San Giovanni in Laterano in the Twenty-First Century: Digital Approaches and Reconstruction

A few important elements in the reconstruction of the early Christian church of San Giovanni in Laterano justified new research: how certain was the reconstruction with lower spaces to either side of the main altar area where later in the Middle Ages the transept would be built? Combined with the existence of two giallo antico marble columns in the actual building this problem justified a new reconstruction. The already operating Lateran Project of Ian Haynes and Paolo Liverani offered the possibility to combine our research and our research methods. With laser-scan and GPR research the tools were available to build a 3D reconstruction, making use of new digital tools and approaches as well as more classical methods. Since the data obtained by Richard Krautheimer and his team proved to be less accurate, the new data provided by the Lateran Project was the best basis on which to build a 3D reconstruction. Our research also showed that a large foundation wall underneath the present south transept had never been considered in reconstructions; the GPR research showed that on the north side a similar foundation wall most likely exists. Building a 3D reconstruction model was the best way to find out if the giallo antico columns and two other shafts could have been used as continuation of the colonnade between the inner and the outer aisles. Contrary to reconstruction drawings, our 3D model also encourages discussion about things like the color of the materials, atmospheric elements, etc.