Uist Unearthed – Bringing communities and archaeological landscapes together through augmented reality
ONLINE - Thursday 17th August 2023 at 7pm
The Uist Virtual Archaeology Project (UVAP) was established in 2020 as a pilot project with the aim of demonstrating the viability of place-based digital approaches to archaeological visitor interpretation in the Hebrides. The challenge was to find methods for engaging our local communities and the wider public in well-researched but hidden archaeological heritage that sits within fragile and sensitive landscapes. Further challenges were established by our desire to work with our local communities, to embed Gaelic in the research and presentation of archaeological material and to create outputs that support sustainable tourism with both economic and social benefits for our islands.
The digital approach we developed in response to these challenges combines location-triggered augmented reality visualisations of archaeological sites alongside multi-media interpretations of archaeological information. Our project outputs comprise the Uist Unearthed app, a cross-platform mobile phone app, and a travelling multi-media exhibition.
In this talk, the UVAP team will reflect on some of the challenges and opportunities associated with developing location-based augmented reality experiences for archaeological sites on the Hebridean islands of North and South Uist. We will also explain some of the thinking and decisions behind the development and use of various multi-media assets, how we agreed on digital content with project partners and stakeholders and how our digital approach evolved throughout the process. We will discuss the value of working with our local communities to coproduce material and explain why this has been so vital for creating engaging experiences that successfully connect people with Uist’s archaeological landscapes.
Video credit: UHI Outer Hebrides
Dr Emily Gal
