ROCK ART IN TECHNICOLOUR -

MASTER THESIS ON AR WITH ROCK ART AS AN ACCESSIBILITY TOOL

January - August 2022

My thesis explored the impact of implementing Augmented Reality (AR) technology in Tanum World heritage from the perspective of access to heritage and the value of digital heritage. Sweden has some of the best-preserved Bronze Age rock art worldwide, with more than 20,000 rock art sites around the country. In addition, Tanum World Heritage contains an estimated 600 rock carving sites, and it was highlighted by the World Heritage Committee for its uniqueness and range of versatility of rock carvings. However, with the public’s lack of physical and perceptual access to rock art in Tanum, and the debate regarding the physical painting of rock art, the thesis aimed to explore whether AR technology can contribute to the heritage experience and accessibility of rock art through digital dissemination. Furthermore, with the vast development of digital technology and its increasing adaptation in the cultural heritage field, the thesis seeked to understand the different perceptions and impacts surrounding this trend. The research was divided into two parts: a case study that investigates the practical opportunities of AR technology in rock art dissemination and information increasement, and a bounded socio-technical experiment (BSTE) that involved a participatory workshop for understanding the stakeholders' perspective on digital heritage.

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The initial experimentation / case study with AR and rock art in Tanum within Nordic conditions was conducted in collaboration with associate professor Jonathan Westin from the University of Gothenburg. The study was part of the project Rock Art in three dimensions (funded by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond and headed by the University of Gothenburg’s associate professor Christian Horn). After the intial study in 2021, I extended the research into my Master thesis.