Lithodomos

Lithodomos is an Australian immersive technology studio creating archaeologically informed reconstructions of ancient cities, monuments and historical artifacts. Founded in Melbourne in 2016 by archaeologist Dr. Simon Young, the company combines academic research with 3D production and interactive software development for cultural heritage, tourism and education.

Its work helps visitors and students visualize archaeological sites as inhabited spaces rather than surviving ruins. The studio brings together archaeologists, 3D artists, mesh modellers and software engineers to produce photorealistic historical environments. Its capabilities span virtual reality, augmented reality, georeferenced panoramic imagery and interactive digital guides.

Experiences across devices

Lithodomos initially developed standalone VR applications for platforms including Oculus Rift, Google Cardboard and Samsung Gear VR. It subsequently expanded into browser-based and QR-code-activated mobile experiences called Expeditions, adopting the shorter public name Lithodomos as its offering broadened beyond headset applications.

Expeditions can be accessed on location or remotely through smartphones and compatible headsets. Their split-screen presentation juxtaposes present-day ruins with reconstructed ancient views, helping users relate historical structures to the landscape around them. The supplied research describes a platform encompassing more than 500 georeferenced viewpoints across more than 60 heritage sites in 18 countries.

Cultural heritage production

The studio develops mobile and web tours, museum and exhibition installations, educational virtual fieldwork environments, and digital assets for licensing. Its services include both content production and custom hardware and software deployments for cultural venues. Reconstructions cover classical Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Near Eastern architecture, with experiences addressing individual monuments as well as wider archaeological settings.

Lithodomos serves tourism operators, historic sites, museums, galleries, universities and schools. Its approach connects archaeological interpretation with accessible interactive media, supporting both self-guided exploration and structured educational use. The company continues to operate independently from its Melbourne base, with its current distribution extending beyond the dedicated VR applications that characterized its early releases.