Seminar: Digital media for archaeological storytelling (April 11, London)

[Gabriel Bodard]

Creating & evaluating digital media for archaeological storytelling: immersion and interaction

Despoina Sampatakou (University of Glasgow)

11 April 2025, 16:00–17:30 BST

Hybrid (in-person and zoom), University of London, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU

Free but booking required: <https://ics.sas.ac.uk/events/creating-evaluating-digital-media-archaeological-storytelling-immersion-and-interaction>

Keynote lecture. Summer School in 3D Imaging and Modelling for Cultural Heritage.

Archaeologists consistently explore new media and cutting-edge technologies to engage the wider public with their research. Interactivity, immersion, and archaeological storytelling are at the forefront of these efforts, inspiring the creation of games, VR experiences, and other innovative activities. These methods aim to not only communicate archaeological findings effectively but also to attract more visitors to museums and cultural institutions. However, the suitability, limitations, and overall impact of these techniques remain underexplored and insufficiently assessed.

This talk presents a brief overview of my recent research, where I examined various media and techniques for communicating archaeological research. My study aimed to determine whether and to what extent archaeologists can effectively engage the public and stakeholders without relying on professional assistance, undergoing extensive training, or requiring substantial financial resources. Additionally, the study explored which forms of media are most suitable for this purpose.

To achieve this, I created and evaluated three distinct forms of archaeological storytelling: a textual narrative, an interactive narrative using Twine, and a VR experience—all based on the same story. This experiment was conducted across three countries: the UK, Malta and Greece, using diverse audiences. The findings provide insights into the suitability and effectiveness of each medium for both archaeological practice and broader knowledge dissemination.

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Dr Gabriel BODARD (he/him)
Reader in Digital Classics

Director of Studies (research): Digital Humanities Research Hub

Director of Studies (research): Institute of Classical Studies

Mailing address:

  Institute of Classical Studies

  University of London

  Senate House

  Malet Street

  London WC1E 7HU

 
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