Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP)

photos of the team in the Vedi Fortress and a bird’s-eye view of the of Vedi Fortress

Congratulations to our team, including PJ Cobb, E Cobb, H Azizbekyan, A Petrosyan, and B Gasparyan, for HKU Research Output Prize 2024-2025, the article: "Defending the Vedi River Valley of Armenia" by Bulletin of @asor-research.bsky.social. doi.org/10.1086/732090

Photo of the CTTN logo and its previous posts, and a human figure wearing a VR headset

Thanks CTTN for featuring our APSAP project! We're excited to share updates on our 4th season of fieldwork in the Vedi River Valley, Armenia in summer 2025. CTTN is an interdisciplinary network focused on #Caucasus #archaeology and the past. Subscribe here: 🔗 sway.cloud.microsoft/CrhnJsdAZ0Ha...

The new issue of @saa-aap.bsky.social from @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org has now been published, containing this digital review. See full issue: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Image showing the published article alongside its book cover

📢Our Open Access article “Designing the Ideal MR Headset for Archaeological Fieldwork” is published in #XR Extended Reality by @springernature.com ! We present our suggestions for building a better MR headset for fieldwork. 🔗 doi.org/10.1007/978-...

Check out the latest #digitalreview in @saa-aap.bsky.social of @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org that considers how archaeologists can best engage online, especially with short-form video: doi.org/10.1017/aap....

image showing cover of Advances in Archaeological Practice and screenshot of the article on a computer screen

How is lidar reshaping how we talk about the past? An open-access article in @saa-aap.bsky.social shows how recent lidar work gets recast as finding “lost cities.” Lidar is revolutionizing archaeological mapping, but responsible storytelling matters as much as the data. doi.org/10.1017/aap....

✨Thank you, SIGGRAPH Asia 2025! ✨Thanks for visiting our booth and exploring our project, “Immersive Interaction & Interpretation of Ancient Spatial & Shape Data”. It was inspiring to share how XR tools support archaeological research via hands-on XR experience and engaging conversations with you.

journal cover

New issue of Bulletin of the American Society of Overseas Research Vol 394 (2025) www.journals.uchicago.edu/toc/basr/202... @asor-research.bsky.social @chicagojournals.bsky.social @karalarson.bsky.social
@petramcreamer.bsky.social @pudukhepa.bsky.social

A photo of an archaeological excavation site overlaid with a website image of the SIGGRAPH Asia 2025 event.

Our project is exhibited at SIGGRAPH Asia 2025! 🎉Come join us to explore how interactive XR tools can support archaeological research.
📅Dec 15–18, 2025
📍HK Convention and Exhibition Centre
Article: doi.org/10.1145/3761...
🎥Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSqv...
🔗Event: asia.siggraph.org/2025

Screencap of the article showing the number of views

So thrilled to see our paper “Defending the Vedi River Valley of Armenia” published by @asor-research.bsky.social & @uchicagopress.bsky.social reached 2200+ views — thanks for your support! Vedi River Valley is a key corridor connecting Ararat Plain and surrounding mountains. doi.org/10.1086/732090

Screencap of the article showing a student wearing a VR headset and the cover of Near Eastern Archaeology

Our Open Access article “Immersing in Mesopotamia: VR Site Tours in the Remote Classroom,” published by @asor-research.bsky.social, reached 2200+ views. It explores how immersive VR site tours can transform the ways we teach and learn in an archaeology university course. doi.org/10.1086/725775

Our digital review for our themed issue on #NAGPRA by R. Eric Hollinger, examines the expanding use of #3D digitization by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, Indigenous communities, and others. #archaeology #repatriation

Read it Open Access here:
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

Image with cover of Advances in Archaeological Practice and side view of user wearing the Vision Pro

Our Open Access article: “The Apple Vision Pro: Useful MR/AR Headset for Archaeology or Not Quite There Yet?” in @saa-aap.bsky.social of @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org assesses the Apple VisionPro’s potential for archaeological fieldwork, data visualization and engagement. doi.org/10.1017/aap....

image showing HKU ranked the first in Asia with 3 photos of pottery

Proud moment for HKU — ranked #1 in Asia by the global higher education analytics organisation Quacquarelli Symonds in QS World University ranking 2026. This recognition reaffirms the University’s sustained leadership across Asia's academic landscape.

let's keep things strange!

Epistemic cultures in undergraduate education In this study, we introduce undergraduate research as a powerful, knowledge-rich experience that may counteract instrumental approaches to teaching and learning. We conceptualise undergraduate rese...

Check out our new #openaccess article with @juusonieminen.bsky.social on "Epistemic Cultures in Undergraduate Education," in @teachinginhe.bsky.social: doi.org/10.1080/1356...

Participants experiencing our VR tour in Arts Tech Lab

Thank you for joining us at the Info Day at HKU on October 25. We loved sharing our project and meeting so many amazing participants who enjoyed our AR/VR experience of an ancient site! Stay tuned for more updates — follow us 👉 @apsap.bsky.social or other platforms: linktr.ee/apsap

Image of a VR headset user with HKU students excavating in the background

Immersive Archaeology: Securing the Human Past with Cutting-edge Technologies by Keynotes HKU. Researchers are advancing archaeology through 3D scanning, #drones and #MR. Their work redefines excavation by allowing archaeologists to preserve while discovering. www.keynotes.hku.hk/story/immers...

✨The #Extended #Reality in #Archaeology event concluded successfully! 🏛️💫Huge thanks to CUHK Libraries and CUHK Archaeology for hosting and supporting this inspiring session, participants explored how #technology and #archaeology come together in innovative ways. Here’s to more discoveries ahead!🚀✨

YouTube video by Society for American Archaeology Exploring Archaeological Challenges: A Webinar for FIRST® LEGO® League UNEARTHED(TM) Robotics Teams

Hosted by the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) and the SAA Public Education Committee, watch archaeologists as they discuss challenges in research, excavation, fieldwork, and more, and answer your questions for the 2025–2026 FIRST #LEGO League #UNEARTHED Season!

The Ancient Near East Today is seeking new members for its Editorial Advisory Committee. The committee supports and advises the editor of ANE Today for matters of content and strategy for the main platform and its Substack newsletter. Please fill out this online form by Oct. 31: buff.ly/2MyvjcP

Thank you for visiting our VR booth at InnoCarnival 2025! Our project ‘Extended Reality for Studying and Teaching Human Past’ is now on display till this Sunday. Perfect for families!
📍Booth D04, 1/F Grand Hall, 12W, Hong Kong Science Park
📅Oct 18–26, 2025
🕙Weekend 10:00–18:00｜Weekday 10:00–17:00

Photo of students experiencing our VR tour and background showing the view from a VR headset

Come visit us on HKU Information Day 2025 and discover the world of VR and AR Archaeology with the BA(HDT) program! Explore virtual reconstructions of an ancient site and our APSAP project in Armenia!
Time: Oct 25 (Sat) 10:00-16:00
Venue: Arts Tech Lab (CPD-4.35, RRST, HKU)
hdt.arts.hku.hk

A photo showing a child wearing a VR headset to explore the archaeological site and an archaeologist wearing an MR headset to help with excavation.

Join our VR/MR tour at HKU’s booth at InnoCarnival 2025!
Discover how XR helps study human past in immersive ways. Experience ancient sites in 3D-fun for kids, teens and families!
📍Booth D04, 1/F Grand Hall, 12W, Hong Kong Science Park
📅Oct 18–26, 2025
🕙Weekends 10:00–18:00| Weekdays 10:00–17:00

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...