Archaeology goes virtual too
The creation of virtual archaeological trails available in the Archaeotrail app will be undertaken by researchers and students from the University of Wrocław. The Institute of Archaeology at UWr is participating in the Erasmus+ SHARITAGE project – Digital Engagement of Local Communities in European Cultural Heritage.
In addition to the University of Wrocław, this international initiative involves academic institutions from Germany, Serbia, Spain, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. One of the project’s aims is to develop virtual educational trails for selected archaeological sites within the Archaeotrail app, as well as to prepare teaching materials for a university course entitled Cyfrowa archeologia publiczna.
The app featuring archaeological trails is already publicly available. It allows users to explore archaeological sites independently using a smartphone, follow suggested routes via GPS to various points of interest within a site, and access visual and textual information. Once the trails have been downloaded, the app can also be used offline. Archaeotrail is available in multiple languages and currently offers an increasing number of trails worldwide. The issue, however, is that archaeological trails have not yet been developed for Poland. – At present, such routes are available for selected archaeological sites in Germany, Turkey and Oman – explains dr hab. Aleksandra Pankiewicz of the UWr Institute of Archaeology. – If we succeed in creating similar trails for local archaeological attractions, this will be an excellent way to promote our research, emphasise Wrocław’s archaeologists.
The researchers have already completed their initial training in the practical use of the app. They have also discussed the stages of project implementation, which began in September 2025 and will run until September 2028.
During the project, the researchers will not only focus on developing local trails. – Our primary role in the project is teaching – stresses dr hab. Aleksandra Pankiewicz. – Accordingly, we plan to organise classes specifically devoted to creating archaeological trails for our region and for archaeological sites investigated by the University of Wrocław.
As teaching is a key element of the project, students and lecturers will be actively involved. The archaeological trails created as part of the project will be accessible to anyone using the Archaeotrail app. The app is available for Android via Google Play and for iOS via the App Store.
Date of publication: 12.01.2026
Added by: S.F.
