Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Center for the Electronic Reconstruction of Historical and Archaeological Sites, CERHAS

Center for the Electronic Reconstruction of Historical and Archaeological Sites (CERHAS).

"The mission of CERHAS is to unite research, education, and public awareness through innovative and accessable high-quality multi-media presentations; and to connect the importance of our heritage to our modern conditions in meaningful ways...While accurate scholarship is basic to our work, we value the ability of our programs to present a variety of voices and points of view. Our interactive media lend themselves to  reflecting the open-endedness of knowledge. We can offer and juxtapose ideas from different people, places, and times as parts of interactive journeys through learning environments.. Our particular emphasis on spatial and geographic orientation makes these journeys memorable, and helps people develop their own questions for further learning. In our physical exhibit designs, we've set out to reflect a similar spatial experience: to embody the same spatial principles as the sites themselves."

Creator of EarthWorks.

Newark Earthworks Octagon Moonrise. Image Courtesy of CERHAS.
Newark Earthworks Octagon Moonrise.
Image Courtesy of CERHAS.
This long-term project has generated several multimedia programs on the topic of the ancient Indian earthworks of the Ohio River Valley. Computer models of earthwork sites become the starting points for Interactive Video Navigation (IVN) for learning more 
about the monuments and the cultures which created them. 
For more information, visit EarthWorks, here.

Project History
"Two thousand years ago, the eastern Midwest of North America was the heartland of an amazing culture, which produced the largest concentration of precise, monumental earthen enclosures in the world. For the past two decades, the "EarthWorks" project, based at the University of Cincinnati, has been creating interactive multimedia presentations about these astonishing places."

Interactive Video
At the end of each video scene, users cans select locations and topics within our virtual spatial landscapes. Rich diverse content is based on years of research: we interviewed not only the archaeological experts but many scholars from various disciplines, and also many Native American leaders, experts, and storytellers: all these voices appear throughout the earthworks tours.

The Mother Ship
The largest exhibit version covers earthworks comprehensively throughout Ohio. It is now installed into the Ohio History Connection in Columbus; part of the permanent exhibit including the state's extensive archaeological collections. The design of the exhibit, a virtual model, and favorite scenes can be found on the EarthWorks website.


"A complete travel experience awaits you along the Ancient Ohio Trail. Our resources will help you to discover the distinguished Native American heritage in the Midwest, and to gain many rewarding insights from your visits to the ancient earthworks. At the same time, we highlight the historic local settings in which the works are found, and suggest many ways to enjoy real or virtual excursions among Ohio’s historic towns, scenic roads, and many distinctive 
cultural, artistic, and tourist amenities.
The Ancient Ohio Trail is a collaboration of all the major owners, managers, and interpreters 
of the earthworks, and is generously funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. "

The Ancient Ohio Trail

Exhibits

Scenes
Short videos from EarthWorks content. 
Including The Newark Earthworks, Fort Ancient, 
the Great Serpent Mound, Inside a House, etc.

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