NetConnect

The Iron Age fortified settlement in Biskupin is the most famous settlement in Central Europe, belonged to the so-called Lusatian culture, which appeared on the huge territory of Europe in the Bronze Age and developed until the Early Iron Age. The settlement was placed on a peninsula of the Lake Biskupin, located in central part of Poland. The site is dated on the ground of dendrochronological analyses. Most of the wood constructions were built during one winter, in 738/737 BC and existed more than one hundred years. The settlement was surrounded with wood rampart with breakwaters. Inside, there were 13 rows of huts, together about 102-105 houses, which were situated along 11 streets. Biskupin had about 800-1000 inhabitants. Biskupin was discovered in 1933 by Walenty Szwajcer, young teacher of local school, who saw, during an excursion with his pupils to the Lake, some stakes at the side of the lake.
The idea to present archaeology to the public on big scale began in Poland together with the Archaeological Festival in Biskupin, more than ten years ago. The Festival was organized by staff from the Archaeological Museum in Biskupin and the Institute of Archaeology Warsaw University. The developing Museum carries many conservations projects for which has been recently honoured with Europa Nostra Medal In present world, where Internet, computers and computers games are visible in every moment of our life, we should take advantage of interactive graphics to bring history and archaeology closer to the public. What is experienced has an add-on to the current visit is the possibility to develop inter-active journeys through the fortified settlement in Biskupin, basing on archaeological sources. This would be really important for educational purposes providing mass public with an alternative mean to visit the site, since Biskupin counts more than 450.000,00 visitors per year.
The virtual travel will present the whole settlement (process and technology of building houses, wood ramparts, roads etc.) and the inside of some houses giving possibility to visit each “room”, from where will be possible to see how for example was used a vertical loom, 3D-models of artefacts found during excavations in Biskupin and video presentations of experimental archaeology will accompany the journey.