The Digital Evolution of Interpretation and Destination Development at Archaeological World Heritage Sites: The Example of the Augtraveler Platform in India

Archaeological sites across the globe offer myriad stories and visualizations of pre-historic and historic civilizations which would have existed thousands of years ago. An archaeological site is a vault filled with historical and cultural artifacts with valuable information. The linkages of some of the well-known archaeological sites with the travel and tourism industry has also provided an opportunity to promote and preserve them by creating greater sensitization to the significance of these sites. The revenues generated from such visitations can often be utilized to fund their preservation and to engage the local communities in related activities, thereby empowering them and promoting local custodianship and sustainability. This includes traditional crafts, amenities and activities that form a key part of the visitor economy of the area around the sites, that benefit both employment and revenue generation for local communities. From a World Heritage standpoint, one of the key aspects for site managers is to ensure that the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), the reason(s) why the site was nominated to the List in the first place, be maintained and protected. Otherwise, there is the potential that all of that time, money and effort that went into the nomination process, and the subsequent visitor economy that built up around it could be diminished or lost. There are instances where such sites that are not conserved and maintained could be placed on the World Heritage in Danger List and potentially have their designation removed. By applying new forms of technology, particularly those related to augmented and virtual reality, it is possible to both allow sites to be better interpreted and understood by visitors, while ensuring that this is undertaken at a safe distance from artifacts which may be thousands of years old. In especially sensitive cases, such as in caves or confined spaces, it may be possible to provide a remote, informed access to the site in its entirety, limiting any potential damage that human contact may cause. This same technology can also pinpoint those intangible cultural elements around an AWHS, that site visitors can patronize local traditional arts, crafts and other activities that are representative of the human history and livelihoods connected to a site.