Developing an Archaeology Simulation via the Unity Engine

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2019: General Sessions" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Employing virtual reality for academic enrichment is a holistic undertaking. A multifaceted team was formed to attain a pedagogical goal; construct a simulation that teaches archaeological methods and procedures. The Cal State University San Bernardino team encompassed students, staff, and faculty from disciplines including: anthropology, applied archaeology, art design, audio/video production, and computer sciences. The poster will illuminate how each aforementioned discipline contributed to this archaeological simulation entitled "Project Ambrosia." Poster subject matter will be devoted towards tasks the player would undertake in the virtual world of Ambrosia. Tasks include: choosing suitable gear for fieldwork, conducting a transect survey, examining ceramic artifacts, and interpreting bone remains within site context. By focusing upon tasks one would encounter in a field school curriculum, the poster becomes "archaeology first" in nature. These tasks will further allow a technological component to complement the primary theme of archaeology. Technical skillsets like programming in the Unity game engine, implementing user friendly movement mechanics, and rendering artifacts into interactable 3D models via photogrammetry will expand upon the world of Ambrosia. The poster will create an open discourse into the future utility of virtual reality within both academia and the field of archaeology.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 23344