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Minecraft map - Watling Lodge

Posted on: 19/11/2015

Gamers can now explore thousands of years of history thanks to the most topographically accurate and interactive Minecraft map of Scotland ever created.

Scotland’s archaeology is now “virtually” at player’s fingertips through a full-scale Minecraft world called Crafting the Past. After months of site visits, building and trialling, people from across the world are invited to download and uncover Roman Forts, journey back in time to the Victorian era or excavate long-lost Pictish settlements with much more to come.

As part of Dig It! 2015, the year-long celebration of Scottish archaeology, this digital world has been specifically designed to encourage the exploration and discovery of the past. In order to create the most authentic experience possible, archaeologists have been working alongside gaming experts since the beginning of the project. 

Stephen Reid of ImmersiveMinds, who has been building the Crafting the Past worlds with a global team of Minecrafters, said:

“Many people don’t realise that Minecraft can be used as a digital learning platform to engage, enthuse and most importantly, teach learners of all ages in almost any subject. Through Crafting the Past, a new and much larger audience now has the opportunity to discover Scotland’s stories.”

Blog posts and videos will be available to parents and educators to provide inspiration for using Minecraft as a learning tool. The builders are also inviting everyone, including gamers, parents and teachers, to submit their favourite aspects of Scottish history, heritage and archaeology for future builds.

Thanks to the support of Multiplay, a gaming services company, and AOC Archaeology Group, a heritage consultancy with a passion for outreach and education, numerous digs, monuments and landscapes have already been created and tested in Midlothian, Perthshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk and Orkney, with upcoming builds in the Highlands and West Lothian.

The first maps are now available to download for free from http://digit2015.com/crafting-the-past/.

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