Boredom and excitement of virtual archaeology

March 19, 2008

Nothing can be more boring than virtual archaeology.

Tridimensional reconstructions of ancient monuments abound on the web and in DVDs. With just a few clicks, you can easily take a tour of ancient Rome, visit a Pompeian house, enter Egypt’s Great Pyramid or climb the Acropolis in Greece.

The problem is that these computer reconstructions often look the same.  As you move your mouse around, you are taken into unrealistic, clean, lifeless, plastic coated landscapes.

Yet virtual archaeology can be one of the most intriguing and rewarding experiences.

From the researcher’s point of view, virtual reality is the ideal environment for the analysis, interpretation and study of ancient sites.

Indeed, many universities and research centers are now using the popular virtual world Second Life for archaeological simulations.   

Interactivity is the key in Second Life, where landscapes can be much more than just empty pieces of virtual architecture. 

People, or avatars,  can wander through them and pick up information on the way. They can see, learn, discuss, play with, try out.  In some cases, they can interact  with the virtual reconstructions as if they were in a videogame.

The subject is so intriguing I decided to embark on the ambitious project of creating a 3D extension for this blog in Second Life.  In this virtual world,  Archaeorama will be a center for 3D interactive archaeology.

The opening is around the corner -- in the next couple of weeks you’ll be able to visit  interactive exhibits, watch archaeology related videos and machinima productions in our  movie theater, enjoy music and video installations related to archaeology, and join archaeologists  on virtual digs. Stay tuned!

Comments

[Lori Cuthbert]

Wow, can't wait for Ms. Morenz to give the Big Tour! Sounds very very cool.

[Rodman Mapholisto]

Such potential is "virtually" unlimited. Anxious to see what you produce!!!

[Robert Michel]

There are already some good interactive exhibits in Second Life which lead exactly to the same goal as you want to reach. I am happy to know that there will be another one about archaeology in a few time. I Hope to see your exhibit soon :)