Digital Palimpsest of Cultural Heritage: A Virtual Experience of the San Ignacio Church in Bogotá, Colombia

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Archaeological Futures through a Virtual Past" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

This interdisciplinary project uses photogrammetry and video game development software to capture and digitally recreate the interior of the San Ignacio church in Bogotá, Colombia. Established in 1610, this church served as the mother church for the Society of Jesus in Nueva Granada and continues to be one of the most spectacular examples of Baroque architecture in the Americas. This 3D immersive environment incorporates archaeological and bioarchaeological data to allow the user to experience both the present and the past virtually. Archaeological excavations from 2016–2017 uncovered information about the early architectural history and subsequent renovations, as well as funerary contexts for over 150 human skeletal remains with well-preserved funerary textiles. We use 3D scans of one individual’s cranium to create a digital facial reconstruction, which will be used to incorporate this individual into the environment as a character guide that shares information with the visitor. This project blends together cultural heritage preservation, public history, archaeological narratives, and interactive design to serve as an immersive teaching tool that is accessible for broad audiences.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Archaeological Futures through a Virtual Past   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 39086.0