Virtual History

Focussing on the ancient Roman Forum, new sensory and intellectual experience were developed using digital reconstruction and narrativisation. The project was based on research and reconstruction undertaken by the Winckelmann Institute (Classical Archaeology) under the direction of Prof. Dr. Susanne Muth. The underlying 3D model "digitales-forum-romanum" was created as a research & teaching project in cooperation with the excellence cluster TOPOI. The prototypes created in the course of applied research were developed in close coordination with our scientific partners: the sub-project "Auralisation of Archaeological Spaces" of the Cluster of Excellence Image - Knowledge - Design , as well as the Winckelmann Institute (Department of Classical Archaeology) of the Humboldt University of Berlin. The interdisciplinary team from the Film University, consisting of film makers, archaeologists, game designers, programmers, media scientists and knowledge managers, drew from archaeological expertise to create experiences which simulate historical reality as closely as possible.

As a result, viewers experience history as (virtual) reality and can interact with what they see and hear. On one hand, the pilot project "Virtual History" explores new forms of representation in film; on the other, it creates a medium for the experimental use of scientific results, triggering further critical discourse and questions. For both academic and public audiences, virtual historical experiences can deliver real understanding of history.