The Virtual World Project presents interactive virtual tours of archaeological sites in Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. The project is designed to aid in the teaching and study of antiquity.
The virtual tours are constructed from a series of 360-degree panoramic and spherical images that are linked together to cover an entire site. Simply drag the cursor across the image to rotate the view.
Choose a site to tour from the menus above.
The Virtual World Project has a threefold purpose:
- Technological: Create interactive virtual tours of the ancient world (Israel, Palestine, and Jordan) using the best available computer technologies;
- Pedagogical: Provide a resource for scholars and teachers across a variety of disciplines related to the ancient world;
- Conservational: Provide a visual database of the material remains of the ancient world as they presently exist.
Use the mouse or cursor to rotate the VR image to the right or left, up or down. At the bottom of VR image window is a bar of buttons; the explanation of each button follows. |
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Zooms in the VR image. This function can also be controlled by gestures on the mouse or trackpad. |
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Zooms out the VR image. This function can also be controlled by gestures on the mouse or trackpad. |
| Auto rotates the VR image. Clicking the button again stops the rotation. |
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Displays information about the current VR image. A close button at the top right-hand corner of the window closes the information screen. |
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Displays a gallery of photos of the site. Buttons at the bottom right-hand corner of the window enable one to move forward or back through the gallery, or view the photos through a slide show. A close button at the top right-hand corner of the window closes the gallery screen. |
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Displays information about the site, including its excavation, the numerous structures and features found at the site, and its significance. A link provides a bibliography of selected published works on the site. A close button at the top right-hand corner of the window closes the information screen. |
 
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Displays an architectural plan of the site, with buttons to other VR images of the site. For large sites, only a contextual portion of the site plan will be displayed, and the plan will change as one moves through the site. One can also choose a different zone of the site by clicking on the desired zone at the upper-left corner of the site plan. Clicking on the button again hides the plan. |
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Expands the VR image to fill the full screen of the computer. Clicking on the button again reduces the VR image to its window. |
Other Navigating Features of the Project |
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Located at the top–right corner of the VR image window, it will take you back to the table of contents. |
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Three parallel white lines make up the menu button, which is located at the top-left corner of the VR image. Selecting the button will produce a list of architectural features at the site. Further selecting a feature will then produce a list of thumbnail images for each VR image of the feature. Select a thumbnail image to go visit that VR image. Clicking the menu button again will take one back to the features list, and another click will remove the menu entirely. |
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Hotspots are the primary means of navigating through a site. Each hotspot represents a VR image that one can visit by clicking it. |
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When the site plan is visible, multiple spots like this represent the location of the VR images of the site. Click on a spot to visit the new VR image. |
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The current location on the site plan is represented by this image. It will move to a new spot when one visits its VR image. The red wedge indicates the direction that is being viewed in the VR image, with north at the top. As the VR image rotates, the wedge will also rotate. |
| Users of this project will benefit from a rudimentary understanding of archaeology. The linked pages on the right provide a discussion of the task and methods of archaeology, a glossary of archaeological and architectural terms that are used in the project, and a general bibliography for further research in the archaeology of Israel and Jordon. A specific bibliography for each site is provide in the site’s tour. | Task and Methods of Archaeology Glossary of Terms General Bibliography |
Funding provided by: |
Directors of the Project: |
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Creighton University Photos for the galleries provided by Steven Schwartz, Adam Ritton, Kelsey Ryan-Simkins, and Alexandra Roddy |
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Ronald A. Simkins |
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Nicolae Roddy |