New Mysteries Immerse Sleuths in Virtual Historical Sites
History sleuths searching for the true location of Vinland, the lush settlement of Viking sagas, can now do more than study online archeological, historical and climactic clues. They can also swoop through surrounding fields and enter Viking homes thanks to new technology that’s part of the latest installments of the Great Unsolved Mysteries in Canadian History Project.
Two new mysteries being launched this month incorporate 3D technology allowing visitors to “fly” over the Chilkoot Trail to solve the mystery of who really set off the Klondike gold rush and rotate Viking artifacts from L’Anse aux Meadows, one of the proposed Vinland sites.
“History is too important to be boring!” says University of Victoria historian John Lutz, who is the co-director of the UVic-based bilingual website. “We need to engage students with cutting-edge technology and this is the first time 3-D re-creations of places and artifacts have been created to teach history in Canada. It literally allows us to present the mysteries in a new dimension.”
Arius 3D, a leading developer of digital archiving solutions for culture and heritage purposes, scanned the Viking artifacts in near microscopic detail.
The latest mysteries are “Where is Vinland?” and “Who Discovered Klondike Gold?” The former poses the question—just where, exactly, did Europe first meet America? Previous speculation ranges from northern Newfoundland to Rhode Island. In “Klondike gold” online sleuths are asked to sift through archival maps, newspaper accounts, and old photos to determine whether an American prospector or his three First Nations companions—his wife, her brother, or their nephew—truly made the first big strike.
Another new mystery, “Jerome: The Mystery Man of Baie Sainte-Marie” about a legless, mute man who washed ashore in Acadia in 1863, was launched in April. In addition to documents, maps and a 3-D re-creation it features a song written for the site by Acadian singer Blou.
“Where is Vinland?” will be officially launched on May 18 at 6 p.m. (local time) in the theatre of The Rooms in St. John’s, Newfoundland. “Who Discovered Klondike Gold?” will be launched on May 25 in the Palace Grand Theatre in Dawson City, Yukon. The first 10 Canadian teachers who submit lesson plans to the Mysteries teachers’ blog will receive copies of two artifacts, reproduced through Arius 3D software.
There are now nine mysteries on the acclaimed website that invites students, teachers and history buffs to search through an extensive online archive to “solve” a mystery and learn more about Canadian history in the process. The website receives support from the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canadian Culture Online Program. Visit the website at www.canadianmysteries.ca
Two new mysteries being launched this month incorporate 3D technology allowing visitors to “fly” over the Chilkoot Trail to solve the mystery of who really set off the Klondike gold rush and rotate Viking artifacts from L’Anse aux Meadows, one of the proposed Vinland sites.
“History is too important to be boring!” says University of Victoria historian John Lutz, who is the co-director of the UVic-based bilingual website. “We need to engage students with cutting-edge technology and this is the first time 3-D re-creations of places and artifacts have been created to teach history in Canada. It literally allows us to present the mysteries in a new dimension.”
Arius 3D, a leading developer of digital archiving solutions for culture and heritage purposes, scanned the Viking artifacts in near microscopic detail.
The latest mysteries are “Where is Vinland?” and “Who Discovered Klondike Gold?” The former poses the question—just where, exactly, did Europe first meet America? Previous speculation ranges from northern Newfoundland to Rhode Island. In “Klondike gold” online sleuths are asked to sift through archival maps, newspaper accounts, and old photos to determine whether an American prospector or his three First Nations companions—his wife, her brother, or their nephew—truly made the first big strike.
Another new mystery, “Jerome: The Mystery Man of Baie Sainte-Marie” about a legless, mute man who washed ashore in Acadia in 1863, was launched in April. In addition to documents, maps and a 3-D re-creation it features a song written for the site by Acadian singer Blou.
“Where is Vinland?” will be officially launched on May 18 at 6 p.m. (local time) in the theatre of The Rooms in St. John’s, Newfoundland. “Who Discovered Klondike Gold?” will be launched on May 25 in the Palace Grand Theatre in Dawson City, Yukon. The first 10 Canadian teachers who submit lesson plans to the Mysteries teachers’ blog will receive copies of two artifacts, reproduced through Arius 3D software.
There are now nine mysteries on the acclaimed website that invites students, teachers and history buffs to search through an extensive online archive to “solve” a mystery and learn more about Canadian history in the process. The website receives support from the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canadian Culture Online Program. Visit the website at www.canadianmysteries.ca
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Media contacts
John Lutz (History) at 250-721-7392 or jlutz@uvic.ca