The Advantages of Digital Publishing of Archaeological Research for the General Public: Case Study Art Project Virtual Vinča

Natalija Stojanović

Review of the National Center for Digitization, Tome 24 (2014) no. 1.

Résumé

In the information age in which computers have caused a revolution in the way of structuring information, its availability and use, the primacy of the printing press - the technology that was at the center of Western culture and communication over the past five centuries - is being challenged. As the use of computers, information and communication technologies in the creation of digital reconstructions of the past is redefining the possibilities of archeology in the 21st century we often justify the transition (our choice of new media) by specifying its benefits or advantages. In doing so we often disregard the disadvantages which are not only a result of media performance but in fact greatly depend on our use of it. This paper presents a unique approach to digital publishing of archaeological research through a case study of project Virtual Vinča. The project combines archaeological research and methodology with artistic representation of archaeology and artistic use of digital media. The project is in the form of a web site that contains virtual 3D models of figurines discovered at the site Vinča during the 1998-2009 excavations. This form of publication allowed the reconstruction of the figurines, their comprehensive analysis as well as the publication of virtual panoramas of the archaeological site and interactive texts that are accompanied by interactive illustrations and animations. Technical challenges (choice of appropriate software) and methodological aspects are analyzed to show how an artistic representation of archaeological data and flexible and imaginative use of available technologies can offer an alternative that uses the advantages and resolves the disadvantages of digital publishing of archaeological research.