A unique "Virtual Museum of the European Roots" will be launched next Thursday at an international conference in Rome.

Accessible through their web site ( http://www.europeanvirtualmuseum.net), the virtual museum allows visitors to admire prehistoric art masterpieces in full 3D power.

Visitors can rotate, scale and move images of the ancient artifacts. They can also take up to 16 thematic routes to explore some key aspects of prehistoric cultures, such as the invention of wine and the first writing systems.

Five tourist cultural itineraries are also online. Extending from Bulgaria to Italy and Romania, they follow fascinating paths filled with art, archaeology and nature.

"The museum provides the possibility to explore in a digital environment the common ancient matrix on which Europe is founded since prehistoric times for the discovery of our shared European cultural heritage," project coordinator Marco Merlini said.

Here is a virtual object on display (click and drag to rotate the image).

It shows two Etruscan statuettes, a man and a woman, with their hands tied up behind their backs. Dating to the 3rd century B.C., the figurines are currently on display at the Civic Museums in Pitigliano, Italy.

Image: courtesy of F-MU.S.EU.M - If you see nothing, download QuickTime free plug-in