Archaeological Storytelling: Narrative Construction using Virtual Reality

Summary

Virtual reality (VR) is an exciting new medium for interactive storytelling and holds great promise as a way to raise awareness of heritage sites and the conservation challenges they face. VR can also be used as a way to provide virtual access to parts of an archaeological site that may be too sensitive for traditional tourism activities. In 2017, CyArk developed three virtual reality experiences of geographically diverse archaeological sites around the world that are being adversely impacted by climate change. The application includes Mesa Verde National Park in the American Southwest, the archaeological complex of Chavin de Huantar in the Peruvian highlands and the historic Ayutthaya in Thailand. The application will be available via mobile device on the Samsung Gear VR and the Oculus Rift virtual reality platforms. Each experience will combine 360 degree video interviews with scientific experts, dynamic audio interviews with site managers, digitized objects from several museum collections as well as fully navigable virtual environments of the archaeological sites. Brought together in VR the diverse multimedia contribute to a richer narrative. CyArk will show example content from the experience and will share the results of the public launch.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 20134