Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Ritual and Ancient Greek Experience of Sacred Spaces

Project Information

STAR-AGESS

Grant agreement ID: 101026674

DOI

10.3030/101026674

Project closed

EC signature date 20 April 2021

Start date 1 September 2022

End date 29 February 2024

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 120 699,36

EU contribution

€ 120 699,36

Coordinated by

Institut Català d'Arqueologia Clàssica
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - STAR-AGESS (Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Ritual and Ancient Greek Experience of Sacred Spaces)

Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2024-02-29

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The research project hosted by the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology in Tarragona and enriched by the collaboration of the Religion, Cognition, and Culture Research Institute of Aarhus University, looks into advanced 3D modelling and spatio-temporal analyses and delves into research on the cognitive formation of space and experience in ancient Greek ritual performance.

STAR-AGESS reconstructs key ancient religious spaces situated in dramatic landscapes by integrating architecture, topography, surrounding terrain, and ancient skyscapes into a virtual environment, which is then used to explore ritual performances and spatial movement. The cutting-edge techniques, methods, and approach use advanced 3D and VR modelling paired with cognitive analysis and offer precious spatio-temporal context of the sanctuaries. STAR-AGESS virtually explores the reconstructed environments at precise times of the year, day and night, when ritual performances may have taken place, in order to explore possible astronomical occurrences or light and shadow effects that may have influenced the asserted cosmological tenets and the spatial configuration of the rituals.

Expanding our analytical toolkit, this exciting and unique for Greco-Roman Antiquity project, amplifies understanding of the function of the chronotope in ancient Greek sanctuaries by studying the elements impacting the shaping of memories and experience during real-life movement within these spaces. STAR-AGESS reveals a cognitive system present in ancient Greek religion, which created strong faith reinforcers, through Predictive Processing, Embodied Cognition, and Cognitive Governance. The analysis reveals the cognitive impact of religious encounters and how religious space and ritual timing may have negotiated belief, identity, and cosmovision in ancient Greek cult practice. STAR-AGESS does not only reveal the interaction of all these elements, but more significantly, delves into current theoretical approaches on the cognitive formation of space and experience in ritual performance.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project’s data was collected during a field season in Greece and involved GCPs and photogrammetric (aerial and ground-based) recording of the architectural remains of three selected sanctuaries. Field data was then processed using digital tools, high accuracy digital terrain models, DGPS, and drone imagery, in order to create topographic and wider landscape photogrammetric models of the selected sanctuaries.

The project has successfully reconstructed the selected ancient religious spaces, integrating architecture, topography, surrounding landscape, and skyscape into integrated 3D models and virtual environments. Data analysis involved the exploration of the 3D models, on the basis of literary evidence and astronomical calculations. During the interpretative phase of the project, specific literary and archaeological material on rituals and ritual performance was considered, in association with spatial conceptualisation, representation, and movement for the specific sites.

The involvement of the Aarhus Research Unit of Religion, Cognition & Culture in this project has enriched STAR-AGESS research on the cognitive impact of religious encounters, as well as cognitive connotations imbedded in temple architecture and the timing of rituals.

Research activities, results, and insights have been disseminated to the academic community through peer reviewed publications and research talks, and to general audiences through several social media posts, blog entries, and the project’s website. The STAR-AGESS workshop Ancient skies, modern tools: Charting the course of Archaeastronomy and Cultural Astronomy in the Digital Age, held in January 2024, communicated the new methodology and results to international researchers.

STAR-AGESS has a) developed new technologies; b) established new digitally enhanced rigorous archaeological methodology; c) created new research networks; and d) offered the academic community and the public new freely accessible 3D and VR models of ancient religious sites. The project has successfully revealed a new cognitive system present in ancient Greek religion, which incorporated Predictive Processing, Embodied Cognition, and Cognitive Governance.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

STAR-AGESS employed a novel methodology, which integrated for the first time a number of different types of specializations beyond archaeology (e.g. digital architectural reconstructions, topographic survey, VR models, and ancient sky reconstructions). The results of the project are not only exciting, but successfully allow archaeologists to expand understanding of ancient religious spaces and performances, by visualizing impressive insights into mechanisms fostering the construction of transcendent laws and religious cognition in ancient Greece.

The project’s profoundly original methodology has not only generated novel insights in the spatial and perceptual understanding of ancient Greek religious spaces, but has also forged new international multidisciplinary teams. The project’s international workshop was the first meeting on the development of ancient sky technologies for Classical Archaeology and it established a unique international Focus Group, comprising of archaeologists, astronomers, and software engineers. The Focus Group, is at the forefront of developing new digital technologies for antiquity (e.g. expanding specialist VR & AI software). The application of these technologies to archaeological research will revolutionise our understanding of ancient spaces and performances.

Further public dissemination of the project’s 3D and VR models is currently underway. These will be made freely available for downloading and will be donated to the museums, transforming the STAR-AGESS models to widely accessible virtual experiences in mass VR platforms, sensory museum entanglements, and participatory crowd research in the near future. Apart from benefiting culture and society, this will pioneer future public engagement with antiquity. The free access of a resource of this scale and quality is invaluable for a range of disciplines, including Architecture, Classical Archaeology, Cognitive Science of Religion, Heritage Management, as well as teaching.

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