Over the last year, I've been working with avatar Torin Golding inside the online virtual world of Second Life. Torin owns and manages a large recreation community based on the ancient Roman world. We've joined with him in adding two sims (virtual islands) to his large estate where Torin will build the project a full-scale reproduction of the Binchester fort and vicus. It will contain a wide range of interactive displays and exhibits helping visitors to learn about the site and the history of Roman Britain.
We've been putting this virtual reconstruction program together for many months and are happy it is finally starting! Stay tuned for more updates on the program and check out Torin's community web blog at http://romacitizens.blogspot.com/
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Otherwise known as what I will be working on this summer
Students from the University of Durham have begun to excavate in the fort of Binchester. Some enigmatic archaeology has already emerged, including the remains of a possible barracks block and Late Roman tower. The finds may be suggesting that we have some tantalizing evidence for refining our Late Roman - Medieval chronologies in the area. Check out Dave's blog for the details and the latest info.
Hello everyone!
You can find me now in Second Life. Known as SonOf Jupiter (I love that I could get this classical name), you can join me in investigating the reconstruction of the commandant's bath house that I found.
Learn about Second Life and download the free client here.
David Petts from Durham University has been posting some great images and information at http://binchester.blogspot.com/. It is a great source of information on the state of the project. And the images sure make me homesick again for the north of England!
Be sure to click the 'Follow' button to keep up on David's news.
Google earth now supports a special layer that allows you to view a 3D reconstruction of ancient Rome. It is not as detailed as the Plastico model in the Museo della Civilta Romana, but it is great to be able to see a real-time version of the urban environment. The layer was developed along with the Rome Reborn project from the University of Virginia.
You can learn more about the layer and download it HERE.
This is a short video that illustrates what is possible within the virtual world platform of Second Life. It is a reconstruction of the baths building at Binchester.