International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

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Presentating Reburied Mosaic through Augmented Reality: A Case Study from the Church of the Lions at the Cultural Heritage Site of Um er-Rasas, Jordan

Open access

Wasif Hwari, Velat Bujeng, Stephen Chia Ming Soon, Abdelkader Ababneh, Nor Khairunnisa Talib

Pages 264-274 Received: 23 May, 2026 Revised: 18 Jun, 2026 Published Online: 09 Jul, 2026

http://dx.doi.org/10.46886/IJARBSS/v16-i7/21743
This study examines the use of Augmented Reality (AR) as a new technique. It focuses on the presentation, interpretation, and protection of the reburied mosaic floors at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Um er-Rasas in Jordan. Although reburial is a good way to preserve mosaics, it also limits the sites' visitors and academics from seeing and interpreting their meaning. Therefore, this paper discusses the development of a prototype based on an AR platform. This system enables the presentation and interpretation of reburied mosaics in situ without damaging them. This study uses high-resolution photogrammetry of the reburied mosaic. These images were used to develop an Augmented Reality application using Unity. The results of this study indicate that the application of AR enhanced visitor engagement. It also improved their cultural understanding of both the mosaic and the site. The paper concludes that the new technology of AR can help achieve a balance between preservation and accessibility of the reburied mosaic.
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