Senior Project - Osiris

Elspeth Dusinberre is an Assistant Professor in the Classics Department at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Her class, Trash and Treasure Temples and Tombs, introduces students to the art and archaeology of ancient Egypt, the Near East, Greece and Rome. Dr. Dusinberre is working to write a text for the class Trash and Treasure, Temples and Tombs: The Art and Archaeology of the Ancient World.

The goal of this project was to help introduce students to the difficulties inherent in archaeology in an interactive, game-based setting. It had to be based on real experiences and encourage students to explore the field more fully, widely, curiously, and carefully than a simple textbook would. It had to be exciting, but still capable of teaching practices and methods. It should include the mundane features of archaeology as well as some more exciting, juicier elements.

The project was implemented in C++ and a custom scripting language, using the SDL graphics library. It runs on Windows, GNU/Linux, and various flavors of UNIX, including Mac OS X. The game has over 300 unique artifacts and is modeled in 3D. It includes seven different maps, an integrated help system, accurate archaeological data, sound effects, complex models, and uses advanced rendering techniques. The project is a fully functional and entertaining 3D game. It models all the phases of an archaeological dig, including planning, digging, interpretation, and application for future grants.