CyArk is a non-profit organization that aims to digitally preserve heritage sites around the world and provide open access to all the data. The archive contains, for example, 3D laser scans and animations, digital models, photographs, interactive maps, and auxiliary data from many historically significant sites, also those with astronomical connections. You can also play with Google Earth and 3D models of buildings. Click "Explore" and choose a site (or search for what you need), and go through the provided information such as "3D explorer", "Exhibit", "In-depth" etc..

1. Go to CyArk to see a list of sites. Check out some of the following famous sites; topics related to them will be discussed at the lecture.

  • Chichén Itzá
  • Chankillo
  • Tikal
  • Xochicalco
  • Teotihuacán
  • The heart of neolithic Orkney
  • Chumash

Other sites that are more or less loosely connected to the topic of the lecture (optional):

  • Monté Alban
  • Ancient Thebes
  • Angkor
  • Chavín de Huántar
  • Niniveh Region

2. Go through the available material for the sites in the first list, and more if you are interested. (Warning: this website is addictive to anyone interested in old, crumbly buildings and people dead and buried already some time ago).  Watch introduction videos (if available), browse multimedia and play with the 3D models and Google Earth, read additional information.

The scale of the sites and structures can be massive, and building them must have consumed loads of resources. What kind of thoughts does this provoke in you about the people who built them? How about reasons why they were built?

Last modified: Tuesday, 26 January 2021, 2:11 PM