Paul FRANÇOIS

Paul FRANÇOIS is an Associate Professor in the Department of Letters, Languages and Ancient Civilizations at the University of Toulouse-Jean Jaurès, Faculty of Letters, Philosophy and Music. He also serves as a CNRS Research Engineer at the Laboratory of Medieval and Modern Archaeology in the Mediterranean (LA3M). His academic career spans over three decades, having joined the university in 1989 after completing his doctorate in Latin studies under the supervision of Paul JAL in 1987.

His research interests bridge classical scholarship with cutting-edge digital methodologies. Initially focused on Latin paleography, critical editions of historical texts, and Roman history (particularly the mid-Republican period), his work has increasingly incorporated digital reconstruction techniques. He has developed expertise in virtual reality applications for historical and archaeological research, with notable projects focusing on the Saint-Germain Fair theaters, Egyptian archaeological sites including Kôm Abou Billou and the Eastern Desert gold mining operations, and various architectural reconstructions.

His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward interdisciplinary work combining traditional humanities with digital technologies. His research spans from ancient Roman history to 18th-century theater architecture, all approached through the lens of digital reconstruction. He has developed specialized methodologies for 'retro-architecture' and virtual reconstruction of historical spaces, with particular attention to how these techniques can enhance both research and public dissemination of historical knowledge.

As a member of the PLH-CRATA research team, he contributes to projects that integrate textual analysis with material culture studies. His work on the Eastern Desert of Egypt demonstrates how remote sensing and digital reconstruction can illuminate previously undocumented aspects of medieval gold mining operations.

He has supervised numerous digital reconstruction projects and has been instrumental in developing tools like SPIRIDON for Mediterranean ceramicology. His work demonstrates a consistent commitment to creating digital infrastructure that serves both scholarly research and public engagement with historical and archaeological materials.