The boundaries of scientific culture in virtual heritage

Abstract

It has become commonplace to say that science now contributes to global culture by applying its discipline to projects involving computer reconstructions of elements of humanity's cultural heritage. These words imply that science can and will effectively catapult the treasures of the past, along with the ideas they express and the ideals on which they were founded, accurately into the future in whole form. This paper explores the effect that science, as a system of belief has on the conveyance of ideas and information relating to cultural heritage. First, it identifies boundaries created by scientific methods to the delivery of traditional ideas and beliefs. Then follows an historical review that demonstrates the evolution of these boundaries. Then follows a number of examples that show the limits imposed, on virtual heritage projects that adhere to scientific methods. The rest of the essay focuses on approaches to using science effectively in the service of virtual heritage project development without being bound by scientific culture. This also includes case studies of a number of actual virtual heritage projects that have taken such approaches which subordinate science to a practical level in order to accomplish specific cultural goals which would have been unachievable by adhering rigorously to scientific methods. It further argues that virtual heritage studies must evolve, for the sake of human culture, in ways which will ensure that scientific biases and prejudices will not become a bottleneck beyond which traditional cultures may become unable to reach the future in living form. The paper concludes with a visualization of virtual heritage studies as field which is developing, changing, and becoming more meaningful in itself as a culture informed by many systems of belief.