The ancient past meets the storytelling technology of the future
Future by Lund's archaeology portfolio Archaeology, cultural heritage, and immersive tech explores DARK Lab (The Digital Archaeology Laboratory), Future by Lund, along with museums, libraries, researchers, and others, are investigating how new technology can make research findings in archaeology and cultural heritage more accessible to a wider audience through various forms of storytelling and digital visualization. The starting point is that vast amounts of archaeological knowledge are available in scientific publications, archives, and databases, but this knowledge is often difficult for the general public to access.
Four different sub-projects are currently underway, with the common denominator being the use of projection mapping. Projection mapping is a display technique that uses specialized software to project video and light onto non-flat surfaces—such as irregular surfaces or 3D shapes like buildings and stages—thereby transforming static objects into dynamic optical illusions that can provide engaging experiences.
The origin lies in a collaborative project where researchers, game developers, Lund Municipality and other stakeholders together explored how archaeological and osteological research findings about the Drotten church ruin in Lund can be used to reach a wider audience. The result was a narrative demo game that focused on a cat's journey through the church ruin, thereby telling the story of life in medieval Lund. Research findings about an individual buried at the church were used to spark reflection on views regarding disability, both in history and in today's society.
- We realized that this type of collaboration around a real-world case study, bringing together academia, small and medium-sized enterprises, and various stakeholders, can be a driving force for innovation and new forms of knowledge dissemination, says Paola Derudas, a researcher in archaeology at Lund University and head of the portfolio at Future by Lund. (Read more about innovation by production)
From this grew the idea for several projects where the same methodology could be used for multiple stories and contexts. The innovation lies not primarily in the technology itself, but in how it is used to convey research and cultural heritage in a scalable and audience-friendly way. For example, if you use a type of projection on house walls, the results can be shown at public events, museum exhibitions, and local cultural gatherings alike.
The first project in the portfolio is therefore the Drotten church ruin. Here, older archaeological documentation, osteological analyses, and digital 3D models are combined to recreate the lives of people in medieval Lund. The second project focuses on Uppåkra, one of Scandinavia's largest and richest Iron Age settlements and the place where people lived before Lund was founded. Here, an extensive piece of embroidery, the "Uppåkra Tapestry," forms the basis for the storytelling. The embroidery depicts everyday life in Uppåkra, such as cooking, crafts, and social activities. By combining traditional craftsmanship with digital projection technology, these scenes can be brought to life to convey stories about the people behind the archaeological finds. The project is being carried out in collaboration with the Uppåkra Foundation, The Historical Museum and the local embroiderers at Täcklebo Embroidery Academy who are working on the tapestry.
"The material provides a foundation for scenes that can be used to tell stories about the people who lived in Uppåkra and create the connection between the past and the present that we believe is crucial," continues Paola Derudas. "By creating contact and engagement, we make the storytelling work."
The third project focuses on the Battle of Lund, using the Lund Municipality's events commemorating the 350th anniversary of the battle as a current starting point. Here, several different sources of knowledge are brought together: archaeological finds, human remains from the battlefield, museum objects, and historical written sources. By combining different perspectives, stories can be created about the soldiers' experiences, their equipment, injuries, and care during the 17th century. A historical drawing of the battle serves as a visual backdrop where details such as soldiers, horses, clothing, and weapons can be enlarged and animated to show the audience various finds from the area and provide a closer understanding of the people behind the historical event.
The fourth project differs from the others in that it is not local, but linked to Ukraine. The project is based on comic strips created by artists from Odesa, depicting how everyday life continues despite the ongoing war. The main characters in the comics are cats inspired by real animals at the Odesa museum. Through projection mapping, these stories will be visualized for new audiences, both in Lund and, hopefully, internationally as well.
All projects are planned to be displayed via projection in public spaces in Lund, including on the facade of the City Hall at Stortorget. At the same time, the ambition is for the productions to be able to tour and be shown in other contexts, such as at Uppåkra's future visitor center or at cultural institutions around Sweden.
In addition to the four ongoing projects, the portfolio includes plans to develop a method for showcasing archaeological excavations and finds from locations that are difficult to access for various reasons, and how archaeological finds that have been taken to museums in other countries could be displayed in their country of origin.
A crucial factor for the work within the entire archaeology portfolio is the collaboration between Lund University, DarkLab, Humanities Lab, museums, cultural institutions, creative companies, and the municipality, which makes it possible to develop new forms of knowledge dissemination and public participation through digital and immersive technology. The work is also based on a collaboration on animation carried out with Anibar in Kosovo.
Read more:
Article about the innovation portfolio from 2025
Part of the work mentioned above is being carried out through a recently launched project funded by the Sten K. Johnsson Foundation.
Skåne's past comes to life through innovative cultural heritage education