#archaeogaming

[tlatollotl]

I haven't put this up on Academia.edu or ResearchGate.net yet because the Internet in Teuchitlan is being really slow. But here's a Google Drive link to the text followed by the slides.

Enjoy!

[archaeolorhi]

Today's Hidden Gem

Taking a wander through the National Museum today, I nearly walked past this cute lil' carving of an Ox!

This wee beauty hails from East Lomond Hill, and dates to c.AD 500-800. Carved into (I believe) a rough block of sandstone is the ox, with clearly defined leg muscles, ears and tail!

Oxen were domesticated and utilised by farmers to move heavy loads and plough fields.

[crabs-with-sticks]

Going on an archaeological survey trip with my fictional bf to answer LORE questions about statues

[harusakiemon]

Orcs that are more like 1st edition D&D.

I based the faces on warthogs

[tombraiderhorizons]

It’s been a ridiculously long time since the last Arte-Factual deep dive. I’d almost forgotten how much I enjoyed researched and writing these articles! So without further ado, let’s take a look at one of the many Mesoamerican-inspired artefacts Lara Croft found in Paititi’s Hidden City: the metatl. 

Continue reading the full article over on Tomb Raider Horizons!

[lichdad]

This is utterly fantastic

Altmeris Vocabulary from Summerset

Regarding Altmeris: The Altmer would probably say that their language is named Aldmeris, considering their obsession with all things Aldmeri, but we need some way of differentiating it from the language spoken by actual ancient Aldmer, so I’m using Altmeris for now. 

Profanity and Pejoratives:

(I.E. swears and insults. I know why you’re here.)

Slek - Profanity. Both an interjection and a pejorative, likely high intensity. Probably equivalent to “shit” or possibly “fuck.” Examples: “Slek, my head hasn’t hurt this bad since…” “May that slek thank her ancestors that she won’t have to face me in battle.”

Glan'nt - Profanity. Pejorative, likely moderate to high intensity. Probably equivalent to “bastard” or “asshole” or “motherfucker.” Examples: “I promise to duel that filthy glan'nt at the determined place and time.” “These glan'nts think they can double cross me?”

De'nt - Profanity. Pejorative, likely mild to moderate intensity. Probably equivalent to “jerk” or “asshole.” Examples: “I know some of us here in Summerset have been true de'nts about this open border situation.” “Are you going to look or are you going to buy? I have no time for de'nts in my shop.” “Those Maormer de'nts have certainly done their part.”

Ephem - Someone who isn’t Altmer. Probably pejorative, likely mild intensity. Possibly short for “ephemeral”, as a reference to someone with a short lifespan. Examples: “Get away, ephem. Away from me. Away from our island!” “These ephems have taken all the rooms.” “If our crafts are left to the work of ephems, our reputation will grow tarnished.” “If the ephems didn’t want entrance processing to take so long, they could fill out the forms in advance.”

Nebarra - Pejorative, likely moderate intensity. Literal translation: “unwelcome.” Impolite word for outlander. (The Altmer equivalent of the Dunmer “n'wah”.) Examples: “You know what that word means? The one the High Elves call us? ‘Nebarra.’ It means 'unwelcome.'” “And now a damn nebarra is standing close enough for me to smell it! Well, nebarra? Speak up!” “Nebarra? Well, I suppose that’s our word for the newcomers. I guess you could say it’s impolite, but old habits can be hard to break.” “With all the nebarra in Alinor, it’s no wonder the hunting has gotten worse.”

Forms of Address:

Barra - A greeting. Literal translation: “welcome.”

Cerum - Gender neutral honorific probably equivalent to “sir” or “ma'am.”

Ceruval - Gender neutral honorific probably equivalent to “sir” or “ma'am.” I suspect it is more respectful than cerum, but that’s just inference based on usage.

Altmeri Cultural and Philosophical Concepts:

Alaxon - State of perfection. Example: “An Altmer concept practiced widely here in Summerset. Alaxon is the state of perfection that every High Elf strives for. The Path to Alaxon represents the approach we take to achieve that state.”

Oegnithir - “The bad change.” Example: “Membership in the Psijic Order will bring you both prestige and power. But such honors often lead to oegnithir—the bad change. What you do in the Order’s name, you do for others. Never yourself.”

Aprax (Singular, “an aprax elf”; plural, “apraxics”) - Someone who has been outcast from society and banished for crimes. Members of society are forbidden from talking to apraxics. Similar, but not the same as ousters. Examples: “I’m what the clods in the kinhouses call an apraxic—an Elf criminal. There are other High Elf misfits called ousters, but the fortunes of an apraxic are a little more severe.” “He’s not an aprax or an ouster, but he tries to act the part.” “If those surfacers know you’re talking to an aprax, they might toss you out too.” “Apraxic Mer are people who, for whatever reason, were expelled from the greater Elven community. Most aprax labor for years to reenter society. Others choose to remain in exile.” “Rumor has it that a famous aprax called the Mother of Rats lives in the city, but I’ve never met her. Even if I did, we’re forbidden from speaking with her.”

Apraxis - The state of being outcast from society and banished for crimes; exile. See The Price of Praxis for more info. Example: “Finally, she whispered the damning phrase, ‘Apraxis’ and let the sphere slip through her fingers.”

Calian, or praxic talisman - A symbol of a person’s membership in Altmeri society. Possibly used as proof of ancestry. Physical descriptions of a praxic talisman from The Price of Praxis:

“At that time, the sphere was pristine—fashioned from milky aethequartz and sun-blown glass.”

“All the pride of my noble race found voice in its creamy luster.”

It is shattered if its owner becomes an aprax, and must be restored to allow return to Altmeri society.

“For thirty years, I labored over the shattered remains of my blessed calian. I spent the last of my gold gathering stone-cutting tools, pearl-powder fixatives, and sacred oils. I ate little and slept not at all. My beard grew long and my muscles withered. With each success came three new failures. And all the while, my fellow Altmer spurned and cursed me. Finally, one bright morning in Second Seed, I set the last delicate shard of glass in its place—returning the calian to its pristine origins.” — The Price of Praxis.

Calan - Possibly means the living members of a person’s clan, but that’s just conjecture based on context. Example: “My entire calan—mother, father, grandseers, and rumes—shuffled in their pews.” (Don’t ask me what “rumes” means, that’s the only time we ever see it used.)

Aednavorith - Genealogy. Example: “The monks of the Serene Harmony Monastery stand as the most renowned "Aednavorith” scholars in all of Summerset. The study of genealogy and ancestry remains a subject of endless interest to all High Elves.“

Hulkynd - Literal translation: "Broken child.” Altmer who were cast out of society as children because of some perceived imperfection or deformity. Examples:

Tableau: “High Elves strive for perfection in all things, and their bloodline most of all. Hulkynds are children abandoned by their families for some perceived imperfection, generally a physical deformity. They’re more than just orphans. They’re outcasts.” Player: “Outcasts? In what way?” Tableau: “In Summerset, family stands above all. They guide your life, almost immeasurably. To be without family is to be unseen, unrecognized as a member of our society. There’s not much of a life a hulkynd can make for themselves because of that.”

Manacar: “I have no family to shame, no name which to soil. I may as well be a shadow, for all the worth I am given. Society would rather ignore me than admit I exist. Of course, this anonymity allows me unprecedented freedom. A blessing within my curse.” Player: “Your curse? The fact that you’re a hulkynd?” Manacar: “Yes. I was rejected when I was but a babe. One look upon my face should tell you why.”

Valtarion: “Hulkynds have no sense of honor. It comes with being raised without a family, you know. That’s why no one trusts them.” Player: “What does having a family have to do with who you can trust?” Valtarion: “A family sets expectations. Here in Summerset, all we do is for our family’s honor. There’s no hope for someone who doesn’t have even that to guide them.”

Lilawen: “A mer without family cannot truly be considered a mer, after all. Why, he’s more than an outsider within Summerset. He’s truly nothing. A broken child can never hope to become anything more.”

Other Vocabulary:

Kynd - Child. Example: “Anyone is capable of anything. A snot-nosed kynd would murder his most beloved dog with a shovel if you gave him a good enough reason." 

Canvaroth - Scout. Example: "I often serve as the Ritemaster’s canvaroth… a scout, as it were.”

Halsoriel - sewer. Example: “It seems he escaped into the vaulted halsoriel.”

Graxifalas - Extremely disgraceful. Example: “It is graxifalas—disgraceful on a scale you outsiders can’t even imagine.”

Kamlehal - “Shrieking terror.” Example:

Erudil: “I borrowed it from the Librarium Kamlehal to impress Glardir.” Player: “Librarium Kamlehal? What’s that?” Erudil: “The… uhm… Library of Shrieking Terror.”

Eluvein - Another name for the hilas owl, used to describe people who are cold-hearted or aloof. Example: “Eluveins lay their eggs, then abandon them.”

Adma'na - Poor listener. Example: “I’m what they call an adma'na—poor listener.”

Criminological Technical Jargon:

Admanen - Literal translation: “the listening eye.” One of three members of an examiner’s quorum whose role it is to inspect and advise, collect evidence, interview suspects, balance competing theories, and in general provide a fresh perspective to an investigation. Example: “You would take on the duties of the admanen, the listening eye.”

Revelator-naganwe - Literal translation: “death seer.” One of three members of an examiner’s quorum whose role it is to use magic to solve crimes. Example: “I am a revelator-naganwe—a death seer. I use magic to solve murders.”

Thalmilan - One of three members of an examiner’s quorum whose role it is to parse clues and render a verdict. Example: “Jurisreeves always travel in groups of three. A quorum comprises three distinct roles—a revelator-naganwe for magical inquiry, an admanen to inspect and advise, and a thalmilan to parse the clues and render a verdict.”

Riasen - A critical witness to a crime. Example: “The Sapiarchs classified him as a riasen—a critical witness.

Etymological Roots of Place Names:

Russafeld - "Russafeld means 'scarlet shrine’ in some dialects of Aldmeris, which may explain where the Red Temple gets its curious name. But the most commonly held opinion states that it’s a shortening or corruption of 'Dread Temple.’” — Loading screen for Russafeld

Tor-Hame-Khard - “In Aldmeric, the name means Warlord’s Mountain Lair, as these vast halls were originally built in the early First Era for the legendary Prime Battlereeve Fiirfarya. One morning the estate’s entire populace was found slaughtered, and thereafter the site was abandoned.” — Loading screen for Tor-Hame-Khard

Ald Mora - Literal translation: “Old Forest.”

I came across more Altmeris words that were not defined, but these are all the words that I could find for which translation was provided, or there was enough context to infer a translation. All examples given above are taken directly from the game.

[decomedula]

Archaeogaming, repensar el pasado mediante la tecnología, por Almudena Anés

Almudena Anés presenta “Archaeogaming”, explorando el pasado con la tecnología En su artículo titulado “Archaeogaming, repensar el pasado mediante la tecnología”, la escritora y arqueóloga Almudena Anés profundiza en cómo los videojuegos han abierto una nueva vía para explorar el pasado desde una perspectiva tecnológica. A través de esta disciplina emergente conocida como archaeogaming, se…

[eae-game-lecture-series]

Mar 17, 2023, 10-11am, Price Theatre Arts Building (PTAB), Room 109

Kaitlyn Kingsland

In Ersilia’s footsteps :  Reusing 3D digital assets of a Roman archaeological site for video game production

With 10 million copies sold and $500 million dollars of revenue, the 11th installment of Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series, Assassin's Creed Odyssey (2018), showed how a videogame based on ancient Greek history and archaeology can make a splash in popular culture and that the distant past can become an extinguishable source of infinite engaging gaming narratives. As pedagogic and research counterparts to videogames of this kind, serious games and archaeogames focusing on Greek and Roman civilizations move from different premises, though aspiring to the same level of success. Serious games, created for a primary purpose other than solely entertainment, have found their way into classrooms and museums to educate students in a variety of discipline mostly relying on digital storytelling strategies. Archaeogaming encompasses, among other things, the creation of video games by archaeologists, who create 3D representations of the ancient material culture subject of their study, initially for the purpose of testing hypotheses in simulated environment and later to popularize archaeology and cultural heritage studies, finding a more ‘serious’ use in the higher education. In this presentation, I will showcase an archaeogame of my design, In Ersilia’s Footsteps, featuring Ersilia Caetani-Lovatelli (1840-1925), the first female archaeologist in Italian history. The game narrative follows her in the exploration of the Roman Villa del Casale in Sicily, a 4th century CE Imperial countryside residence, and UNESCO World Heritage site. The game revolves around the use of 3D digitized assets, created employing digital photogrammetry and 3D laser-scanning to capture the archaeological site, that significantly contributed to increase the realism of the game environment influencing the game creation process towards telling stories of real historic characters in real historic places. Those assets represent at the same time an example in best practices in reusing 3D data, since, once used to achieve research goals, they are repurposed and in combination with an original narrative and a user-friendly interface and mechanics they become the core of an engaging and exciting exploration game.

Bio Kaitlyn Kingsland is a PhD candidate in the Department of History at the University of South Florida (USF) and is currently the Lab Manager at the University of South Florida’s Institute for Digital Exploration (IDEx). She is an anthropologically-trained archaeologist and specializes in 3D digitization of tangible cultural heritage. As of 2019, she is the manager and editor for archaeogaming.com, a website dedicated to exploring archaeology in and of games. Her research focuses on the applications of serious games for cultural heritage and the generation of game assets using 3D scanning of artifacts and sites with global projects and partners. In the field of archaeogaming and digital archaeology she authored several papers in peer-reviewed journals.

[chaotic-archaeologist]

It's because of you i had the thought of "wow the archeology of this place would be wild wish there was a fanfic about it" while playing a video game.

Have you ever had a similar thought while playing/watching something?

Great news: you don't even need a fanfic to experience video game archaeology! Check out archaeogaming-- it's archaeology in and of video games.

I've never really been a huge video game person, so I'll admit that I don't really know much about any specific video games and what would make good archaeology. But there are people out there thinking about it!

I'm honored that I was able to spark this thought!

-Reid

[archaeolorhi]

The crossover I not only want, but NEED! Absolutely love this x

Assassin's Creed Origins x Assassin's Creed Odyssey

I created these 3 virtual photography concept art pieces of what a crossover between Origins and Odyssey might look like!

If you'd like to see how I created these three pieces, check out my new tutorial on YouTube!

[archaeolorhi]

Uhtred son of Uhtred

Who exactly was the REAL Uhtred of Bebbanburg? (that's right besties he was REAL!)

In this weeks video we take a look at Uhtred and His Pretty Boys, the time they lived and the impact Uhtred's reign had on the North of England.

[theamazingsaraman]

CALL FOR PAPERS

My friend and I are running a session at the 2019 TAG Archaeology conference in London! The topic is the archaeology and history of gaming 😃🎮♟🎲

Confused? Fair enough 😅 If you’re wondering how the archaeology of games (otherwise known as Archaeogaming!) works, we made a zine about it:

https://florencesmithnicholls.itch.io/archaeogaming-zine

We welcome papers from ANYONE. If you have a good idea, send it our way! If you’ve never done this before and need help or have questions let us know 🙂 You can find all the details here:

https://powerplaytag2019.home.blog/

If you can’t come to London but still want to get involved we will also have a Twitter conference running alongside our session 😊💻📱

[harusakiemon]

Sooo... I came out to Indy Croft as a lover of giant women. And to keep the gag going live my truth, I decided to draw a giant Lara Croft. Then, since I was drawing the temple at Tikal, I decided to make a kind of Maya version of Lara, hence the huipil.

I kinda tapped out on the huipil because there's already so much detail in the image. And I wanted to keep it mostly blue to match Lara's classic shirt.

Next, I have to start developing my fursona

[gallopinggallifreyans]

It’ll be difficult and probably won’t work. I will keep you all updated with my riveting and engaging archaeogaming journey

Since I am a gamer and an archaeologist, I’m gonna do something kind of inadvisable. Not because it’s Bad Ethics. I’m just gonna break some rules

[tombraiderhorizons]

Let this curated collection of Tomb Raider research papers and articles serve as a launchpad for your own research!

Click here to access the archive!

[thekindacademic]

Spent Sunday night at Starbucks drafting out the last section of the paper that’s due on Thursday.

*internally screams*

This is the last weekend of 6 weekends that I’ve stayed home to just work on the paper. Can’t wait to not feel guilty about leaving the house for fun!

That being said, I still love every moment of writing this paper.

-the arcegyptologist-