Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP)

image of VR Headset, details about the workshop

Join us at CUHK for a dynamic talk on how VR, AR, and MR go beyond entertainment to revolutionize archaeology and education. Experience a live demo showing how these innovations transform teaching, tourism, and data collection. Register: cloud.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk/mycuform/vie...
Don’t miss out!

On 16 Sept at the InnoWing, visitors joined a VR tour of Armenia’s Vedi Fortress. They explored a 3D reconstruction of the Late Bronze and Iron Age structure to learn more about the past and technology. Thank you to everyone, and please join our SIG: innowings.engg.hku.hk/apsap/

Photo of Learning Garden & Maker Space, University Library, CUHK and a user with a VR headset being blown away

🌪️ Due to Typhoon Ragasa, our exciting talk by HKU team on immersive tech & archaeology has been rescheduled for everyone's safety.
🗓️ New Time: Oct 8 (Wed) 10:30-12:30, 2025
📍 Venue: Learning Garden & Maker Space, LG/F University Library, CUHK
Supported by rihcuhk, anthrocu & cuhklibraries💜

Congratulations @saa-aap.bsky.social of @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org for the release of the latest issue, volume 13, issue 2! www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Also check out, in that issue, our evaluation of the Apple Vision Pro for archaeology: doi.org/10.1017/aap....

Photo of user wearing a VR headset

Exploring the Past Through Innovation
Join us at the HKU Innowing Carnival 2025 for a special talk on how technology is helping us better understand the ancient world.
🗓️Sept 25 | 14:30–15:30
📍Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing One, HKU
📌LED Wall & Brainstorming Area
hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hd...

Cover images of Advances in Archaeological Practice featuring APSAP, highlighting archaeology as a people-centered practice.

Thanks @saa-aap.bsky.social for the APSAP-related covers of Vol. 11(4) and Vol. 7(4)! AAP covers spotlight the people, places, and communities that bring archaeology to life. Read more: www.cambridge.org/core/blog/20...

Photo of ‘Advances’ confectionery, enjoyed one year by delegates at the SAA Annual Meeting.

Huge thanks to the three editors, Christina B. Rieth, Sarah A. Herr and Sjoerd van der Linde, for running the @saa-aap.bsky.social of @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org for the last few years, it was a great experience to work with them on the digital reviews! 👏📚 www.cambridge.org/core/blog/20...

A student wearing a VR headset, surrounded by glowing digital graphics and holograms, symbolizing immersive technology and virtual/augmented reality learning.

Step into the future with HKU's ELEC4547: Emerging Tech in VR/AR 🚀 Explore how humans interact with digital worlds through optics, haptics and perception. This hands-on, technical course covers hardware and software💡Let's build a functional VR headset📍Register: hku.welight.fun/projects/2_p...

image of archaeologists working in the field

Have you been thinking about how digital technologies will impact Archaeological Labor Management? Consider submitting a Digital Review on this topic to @saa-aap.bsky.social by @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org. Submit a Digital Review abstract by Sept 1. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

A photo of the management of AirWorker and our team in Armenia

We sincerely thank the leadership of AirWorker, an engineering company specializing in clean, sustainable wind energy in Armenia, for visiting us in the field on 6 July. Your visit was greatly appreciated, and we look forward to future collaboration!

Photos of HKU students attending the class CCHU9080

HKU Year 1 students: ever wonder what old stuff can tell us about people’s lives? The course CCHU9080 Dead People’s Things: Excavating the Past with Archaeology explores how objects — from artifacts to everyday items — shape human stories. Registration begins tomorrow, open to all, Sem 2 (Wed)

Mobile phone’s screen showing the account of ar.memory.dc, with photos of the National Archives and the White House in the background

the QR code for its Instagram; with photos of the White House in the background

a profile picture of its facebook, with photos of the National Archives in the background

What was the land under the National Archives in Washington DC once used for? Discover hidden stories with ar.memory.dc’s AR app! See the past come alive on the spot. Download the app & follow ar.memory.dc on www.instagram.com/ar.memory.dc and www.facebook.com/people/AR-Memory-DC/61575285207420/

Digital eXtended Reality #technologies allow users to immerse themselves in 3D spaces, harboring potential for fresh applications in #archaeologicalpractice and #engagement.

Read Hayk Azizbekyan, Peter J. Cobb, and Elvan Cobb’s thoughts on the #AppleVisionPro in AAP’s latest Digital Review article.

journal cover

New special issue of Advances in Archaeological Practice Vol. 13 (2025) www.cambridge.org/core/journal... Caring for Culture in the 21st Century @saa-aap.bsky.social @apsap.bsky.social @archaeojake.bsky.social @sherr-spadefoot.bsky.social @drdonnayates.bsky.social @dremilinesmith.bsky.social

Congratulations @saa-aap.bsky.social at @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org on the release of Volume 13, Issue 1! www.cambridge.org/core/journal...; Check out the digital review about how #lidar discoveries in #archaeology are picked up in the popular press: doi.org/10.1017/aap....

Photo of presenting an HKU pewter plate to Mr. Samvel Khachatryan at the Vedi Medical Center

A big thank you to the Vedi Medical Center in #Armenia for supporting the APSAP team for many years! They have always kindly helped our team members. This season, we visited to show our appreciation, presenting an HKU Pewter Plate to Mr. Samvel Khachatryan, Vice Director.

Been considering trying the #AppleVisionPro for #archaeology? We have been experimenting with it, as a #mixedreality headset for interacting with archaeological data and we wrote the following review in @saa-aap.bsky.social of @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org: doi.org/10.1017/aap....

i have three archaeology and heritage starter packs, and more folks and ords have joined since i last updated them. here's 1
go.bsky.app/FrmtR15

Photo of HKU students visiting Garni Temple

🌍 Ever thought about doing real archaeology outside the classroom? Read the post of Kristy, a BA Humanities and Digital Technologies student from HKU. She recently returned from an amazing two-week field trip in Armenia with the #ARTH2110 course — it was epic!🏺💥
🔗 openarchaeology.org/armenia/2025...

2 Photos of students wearing VR headsets, photos of Minoan pottery, Parthenon and an excavation site in Armenia

#HKU’s course selection period begins August 5! Check out these archaeological courses for a unique experience! They are ARTH2102, ARTH2110, and CCHU9080 – all about archaeology, especially of the east Mediterranean and Armenia. Open to all students, no prerequisites!

a world map with a pinpoint showing the location of Hong Kong

HKU achieved an interesting milestone, rising to rank #11 globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026. It reflects the contributions of the entire HKU community. We’re proud that APSAP grows within this academic hub where heritage, innovation, and research come together.

Been thinking about how #AI, #robotics, or #automation may impact archaeological labor in the coming years? Consider turning that into a Digital Review for @saa-aap.bsky.social of @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org for an upcoming theme issue on labor - call details: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Photo of a simulated site, photos of children trying on-site excavation, AR/VR technology and museum activities

Dig, discover, and display. What happens when kids become archaeologists for real? The unique program organized by the Armenian Heritage Development Foundation, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside lets young minds explore the full journey of artifacts in Armenia. doi.org/10.1080/2051...

Submit an article Interested in submitting an article to Antiquity? Find out more, including our submission guidelines for authors and details about our editorial processes, here. Find out more

Where in the world are you researching? Wherever it is, we want to hear from you! We publish archaeology from all over the world, so find out how you can get your research in front of a global audience 🌏
🏺 #Archaeology

Screencap of the article in Communications of the ACM and photo of an ancient site in the background

How is #AI reshaping the way we study the human past? A news article in the Communications of the ACM by Karen Emslie highlights how archaeologists are using #machinelearning and #computervision to uncover the stories of human culture. Read more: cacm.acm.org/news/researc...

Screencap of the article in Cambridge University Press and cover of Human Development Report 2025

Our article in @saa-aap.bsky.social by @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org is cited in the #UN Human Development Report 2025! Explores #largelanguagemodels and #generativeai in #archaeology. Research contributing to global #AI conversations! doi.org/10.1017/aap...., hdr.undp.org/content/huma...

What’s it like to dig into ancient sites and explore stunning landscapes? One HKU student joined ARTH2110 this summer and went to Armenia for two weeks. Check out her HKU-published vlog for real-life excavation, hiking, and fun! You might want to join next time!
www.instagram.com/reel/DLURUeL...

Photo of an archaeologist comparing the 3D model of a virtual pottery sherd with an adjoining real sherd using a MR headset

Researchers at HKU are reshaping the future of archaeology by integrating high-resolution #3D scanning and #AR/#MR technologies into excavation workflows. This method allows archaeologists to virtually revisit sites long after excavation. bulletin.hku.hk/research/int...

Photos of secondary school students experiencing VR technology in the HKU Arts Tech Lab

Photos of secondary school students experiencing VR technology in the HKU Arts Tech Lab

On 8 May 2025, secondary school students visited the Arts Tech Lab for an HKU Arts Undergrad Info Session on the BA in Humanities and Digital Tech. Students explored a VR+AR showcase of our archaeological site and joined a lecture on #3D #archaeology. We hope all participants enjoyed the event!

Scopus screen shot

Congratulations to the journal @saa-aap.bsky.social of @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org, which just moved up from ranking around 25th last year to ranking around 15th this year, of all archaeological journals in the world, according to Scopus!