A new digital media project at Newcastle University, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), is proving that academic thought is not set in stone. Through the use of a modern-day tablet - the mobile phone - Northumberland’s ancient rock art is being exposed to a new generation of enthusiasts.
The new mobile website, with clear, simple navigation, has been designed to enable anyone to find the rock art panels. Annotated drawings, recorded commentary and photographs can also be downloaded to a mobile phone to enable visitors to see the patterns more easily.
The Rock Art Mobile Project (RAMP) breathes new life into Stan Beckensall’s extensive archive on Northumberland rock art, which was digitized by Newcastle University as part of the AHRC funded Northumberland Rock Art Project six years ago. The new project was funded by a £150,000 AHRC Digital Equipment and Database Enhancement for Impact grant.
Archaeologists worked side-by-side with digital media experts on this International Centre for Cultural and Heritage Studies project, using new technology to share information about the famous stones.
During their research, it emerged that people were often left frustrated because they couldn’t find the rock art easily, which can be tricky to locate even with a GPS, as most of the markings are flat and often difficult to spot in thick vegetation and overcast conditions. The new site means that finding the art should no longer be a challenge.
“Some of the stones are quite weathered and it’s not obvious unless you know where to look. You could be standing right next to it and not see it,” explained Dr Aron Mazel, who led the project.
The research initiative covers three significant locations in Northumberland: Dod Law and Weetwood Moor, near Wooler, and Lordenshaw, near Rothbury, and makes use of mobile phone barcodes, known as QR codes, which link into an interactive mobile website.
Visitors can either type in the website address found on signs at each location, or scan the QR barcode to be taken to the site automatically.
“I’ve been talking to the public about rock art for about 30 years, but this is a very different approach for me,” said Dr Aron Mazel. “I’m not the most technical person, so it has been a real learning curve to work with people who understand new technology so well."
Dr Mazel said the fact that the geometric patterns were still such a mystery was perfect for engaging people in the project.
“If you look at rock art in many other parts of the world you can identify animals and humans and obtain a sense of what was going on,” he said. “But this is entirely geometric. It’s been here for about 6,000 years and we’re still no nearer to working out exactly what it’s all about and that’s what’s so exciting.”
The team, which consisted of Dr Mazel, Dr Areti Galani, and research associates Dr Debbie Maxwell and Dr Kate Sharpe, carried out five workshops in Rothbury and Wooler in September 2010 and March 2011 to discuss the project with local people and rock art enthusiasts and to develop design ideas. They also worked with the same group of people to test and refine the prototypes.
http://rockartmob.ncl.ac.uk/
Project blog: http://rockartmobile.wordpress.com/
ENDS
Dr Aron Mazel (Art and Cultures, Newcastle University) can be contacted on aron.mazel@ncl.ac.uk and 0191 222 7845
AHRC Media contact: Jake Gilmore, Communications Manager, 01793 416021; j.gilmore@ahrc.ac.uk
Notes to Editors:
1. Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) - Each year the AHRC provides approximately £100 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. In any one year, the AHRC makes hundreds of research awards ranging from individual fellowships to major collaborative projects as well as over 1,100 studentship awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.
2. Digital Equipment and Database Enhancement for Impact (DEDEFI) - During 2009/10 and 2010/11 the AHRC invested £4m in research projects that have lead to enhanced access to leading edge digital technologies and facilities by arts and humanities researchers and also to enhanced impact from digital research outputs, such as databases, established with current or past AHRC or AHRB support. This call was designed to sustain, build upon and enhance the UK’s research strengths in the arts and humanities, including the outputs from AHRC’s ICT Programme, and to complement existing activities, such as those supported through the RCUK Digital Economy Programme.