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Archaeology & Animation

Background
Archaeology and Animation can refer to various associations and subject matter. For instance, there are forms of animation in which archaeological subjects are explored, as a medium used to teach and share archaeological knowledge. Also, forms of animation can be used to enhance archaeological research, study, and practice; to see things or reconstruct artifacts and/ or sites that could not be explored in such detail otherwise. Animation essentially provides more ways to understand and interpret the ways of the past and modes of existence throughout history. The following article will focus on select forms of animation that involve/ are involved with archaeology, such as examples of archaeology themed television shows and episodes in animated series, and also different ways in which forms of animation enhance archaeological study.

Archaeology & Animated Television Series
There are many examples of Western animation television series and specific episodes that are centered around archaeological subject matter. There are some entire series that focus on archaeologists, such as Jackie Chan Adventures and The Mummy: The Animated Series. There are also notable episodes of popular animated series that focus on an archaeological subject matter and/ or "adventures", which include: The Simpsons, Phineas and Ferb, Scooby Doo, Kim Possible, Ben 10, DuckTales, Batman the Brave and the Bold, Galaxy Rangers, Storm Hawks as well as Japanese anime series such as One Piece and Explorer Woman Ray.

Jackie Chan Adventures
The title character is modeled after real life actor/ martial artist for the most part only in likeness. In the show he is a fictional archaeologist/ adventurer searching for lost ancient talismans that supposedly have unwavering power when assembled and could be dangerous if fallen into the wrong hands. The show follows his adventures in searching for the artifacts and the villains he continuously faces along the way. He often spends more time fighting “bad guys” than conducting accurate archaeological study or fieldwork. However, he often remarks that he would rather spend more time doing “proper” archaeology and when he attends his niece's career day; he gives an accurate explanation of what archeology is like in real life.

The Mummy: The Animated Series
The series originated from the feature films The Mummy and The Mummy Returns and around the central characters of the O’Connell family but deviates from the original storyline of the films. It follows their travels around the world (especially across Egypt) and numerous adventures to recover ancient artifacts, such as the lost scrolls of Thebes and the Manacle of Osiris. One of their main goals being to keep such valued and potentially dangerous artifacts them out of the wrong hands, which for the post part are those of High Priest and major nemesis, Imhotep.

Archaeology and Computer Animation
Computer animation is bringing archaeology into the future with various benefits to enhancing the study and practice of the field. Computer animation technology is currently being used to recreate sites of the ancient past.

Specific Example - Cyprus Site Project
A specific example of the use of the integration of computer animation into archaeology is a project to recreate a five-thousand-year-old Chalcolithic roundhouse in Cyprus. The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) is funding the project with a Site Preservation Grant to finance the use of 3-D and computer animation technologies to reconstruct and study of the Kissonerga archaeological sites in Cyprus. Site visitors/ viewers will be given an intimate look into the building and its use from the physical reconstruction of the building and using 3-D computer imagery to recreate artifacts found inside.

Overall Objective of Project
The animated reconstruction project is part of a larger project of the University of Manchester which involves the investigation concerning the Kissonerga Village from around 10,000 years ago to present day and their continuous occupation with the overall goal of shedding light on the human experience over periods of time. The AIA President says of the project, it (the project) quote “is very exciting because it not only preserves the actual ruins, but allows visitors to immerse themselves more fully in prehistoric Cyprus using virtual reality so they can experience what life would have been like at that time.”

Narrative and Further Goals
The narrative of Cyprus’ islands often excludes the prehistoric sites because they are not easily visible and therefore harder to preserve, especially due to the growing tourism industry on the island. Another goal of the 3-D animation project and technologies is to help teach and share knowledge throughout both the local community and tourist populations about the Kissonerga site and to improve the appreciation of the island’s historical periods and sites of population.

Relevance
The use and relevance of 3-D technology in terms of archaeological study is steadily increasing. As noted by the AIA Site Preservation Committee Chair, quote “Technology is playing a much more important role—not only preserving our heritage—but in providing new ways for people to experience archaeological sites and learn about the past first-hand.”