Using Digital Media to Mediate Archaeology in the LVR-Archaeological Park Xanten / LVR-RömerMuseum

For the education and mediation work of the LVR-Archaeological Park Xanten/LVR-RömerMuseum, digital media play a central role. The museum and the park preserve the foundations of the former Roman city Colonia Ulpia Traiana. The area has not been built over since late antiquity. Today only the foundations of the Roman buildings are preserved beneath the surface. Various methods are in use to visualise the dimension of the former Roman city and some of their monumental buildings to the visitors. A main feature of the museum’s education service is a virtual reconstruction of the Colonia. The film is displayed on huge screens in the museum’s permanent exhibition. The visitors get an impression of the Roman city from the point of view of an ancient pedestrian. The aim is to give visitors of all target groups a comprehensive and detailed impression of city’s architectural appearance and to create a realistic impression of space and atmosphere of the Colonia Ulpia Traiana, based on the archaeological evidence.