From Google Street View to digitised museum collections, here is a list of virtual archaeological sites and artefact collections related to Southeast Asia.
To cite this page: Tan, Noel Hidalgo (2021, updated 14 August 2024) Virtual Archaeology. Southeast Asian Archaeology. Available at: https://www.southeastasianarchaeology.com/virtual-archaeology/
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Overview
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3D scanning and virtual reconstructions are fast becoming popular in archaeology and conservation. More expensive physical scanners using emitted lasers provide high scanning resolutions ideal for architectural and conservation applications. However 3D scanning from photogrammetry is another viable and lower-cost option: software such as Agisoft Metashape (formerly Photoscan) is a popular and I use an iOS app called Trnio that does quick photogrammetry scans using a mobile phone and cloud computing (check out my collection here).
This page was based on a post made during the Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020 – given that travel restrictions are in place globally for some time to come, virtual archaeology is one way to experience archaeological sites and artefacts from the comfort of your computer, and even your phone. The links below come from a number of different sources and allow you to enjoy archaeology virtually. I will update this list periodically, as more sites and collections become available. Let me know in the comments or via the contact page if there are other sites worth including in this list.
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Recommended Books and Products
Virtual archaeology and the related digital heritage fields are still relatively new in Southeast Asia, and the technology to create 3D scans of artifacts and sites evolves very quickly. Here is a selection of books and products relevant to virtual archaeology and digital cultural heritage, from guides on how to create 3D scans and virtual tours to advanced theories and applications in the field. Some of these links are affiliate links and I may receive a commission if you click on them and make a purchase. For other sources of reliable academic information, you should also check out the books page for latest releases and the occassional free book, as well as the journals page for the latest scientific research.
Last update on 2024-12-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Virtual Archaeological Sites
- 3xvivr.com – Professional Virtual Reality Production company in Myanmar with a number of Myanmar temples in their showcase.
- Angkor 360° – Virtual Angkor is a collaboration between archaeologists, historians and Virtual History specialists based in Australia, Cambodia and the United States.
- Angkor on Google Street View – Explore the wonders of Angkor, Cambodia, where thousand-year-old temples lie hidden in the jungle, and ancient cities and roads trace a path to the lost kingdoms of the Khmer empire.
- Aung Nan Heritage – 3D visualisation of the Aung Nan heritage site in Magwe, Myanmar, a 19th century village.
- Ayutthaya Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Ban Tan Khun, Nakhon Si Thammarat – 3D virtual model by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
- Borobudur 360° and VR Tour – Virtual tour by the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs
- Borobudur on Google Street View – Take a virtual tour in this giant Javanese stupa
- Borobudur on Project Jigsaw – by the Australian National University
- Dharmasraya – Vitual tour by the National Archaeology Center of Indonesia
- The First Picture – Google Arts and Culture site on the rock art of South Sulawesi
- Google Arts and Culture Open Heritage – A collection showcase of work by CyArk to digitally record, archive and share the world’s cultural heritage. The gallery has sites from Bagan, Ayutthaya and Hue
- Gua Harimau Prehistoric Site – Vitual tour by the National Archaeology Center of Indonesia
- Gunung Sewu – Vitual tour by the National Archaeology Center of Indonesia
- Hoi An – 3D virtual model by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism
- Hue – 3D virtual model by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism
- Intramuros – The walled Spanish city of Manila has a section in Google Arts and Culture featuring online exhibits of sculpture collections and street views of various areas inside the city
- Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park – Virtual tour by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Khum Jao Luang, Phrae – 3D virtual model by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
- King Narai’s Palace, Lopburi – 3D virtual model by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
- Lake Matanao – Virtual tour by the National Archaeology Center of Indonesia
- Liyangan – 9th century archaeological site in Central Java
- Manila Cathedral on Google Street View – Located in Intramuros and also known as the Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Founded in 1571.
- Maros Pangkep – Virtual tour by the National Archaeology Center of Indonesia
- Muang Sing Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Museum of Stone Tools – Online repository of scans of stone tools from around the world, including some examples from Indonesia.
- My Son Sanctuary – 3D virtual model by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism
- National Museum of Anthropology – Virtual tour of the National Museum of Anthropology in the Philippines, which houses the nation’s ethnological and archaeological collections.
- National Museum of Indonesia – Virtual tour of the museum in Jakata.
- Nganjuk Temples – Virtual tour by the National Archaeology Center of Indonesia
- Nias Island Megaliths – Site by Felix Wolter based on the Telling Stones project featuring the megaliths of Nias Island.
- Our Lady of the Gate Parish, Daraga Church on Google Street View – National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines and established in 1772.
- Phanom Rung Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Phimai Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Phimai Historical Park – 3D virtual model by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
- Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Phu Phra Bat Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Prasat Sdok Kok Thom, Sa Kaeo – 3D virtual model by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
- San Agustin Church, Manila on Google Street View – Another historic church located in Intramuros and the oldest stone church in the Philippines.
- San Pedro Cathedral, Davao on Google Street View – Established in 1847 and the oldest church in Davao
- Santa Ana Church, Manila on Google Street View – Established in 1720 and designated as a National Shrine in the Philippines and houses two National Cultural Treasures.
- Sahul Time – An interactive map showing the sea levels and land mass size of Sahul (Australia and Papua New Guinea) and island Southeast Asia.
- Sdok Kok Thom Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Si Satchanalai Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Si Thep Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- St Gregory the Great Church, Majayjay on Google Street View – Declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines, and founded in 1571.
- St James the Apostle Church, Pampanga on Google Street View – Baroque style church established in 1607. National Cultural Treasure
- Sukhothai Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Temple Site at Phimai – A computer reconstruction of the Khmer temple site of Phimai.
- Phanom Rung Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Phimai Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Phimai Historical Park – 3D virtual model by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
- Phra Nakhon Khiri Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Phu Phra Bat Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Prasat Sdok Kok Thom, Sa Kaeo – 3D virtual model by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
- San Agustin Church, Manila on Google Street View – Another historic church located in Intramuros and the oldest stone church in the Philippines.
- San Pedro Cathedral, Davao on Google Street View – Established in 1847 and the oldest church in Davao
- Santa Ana Church, Manila on Google Street View – Established in 1720 and designated as a National Shrine in the Philippines and houses two National Cultural Treasures.
- Sahul Time – An interactive map showing the sea levels and land mass size of Sahul (Australia and Papua New Guinea) and island Southeast Asia.
- Sdok Kok Thom Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Si Satchanalai Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Si Thep Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- St Gregory the Great Church, Majayjay on Google Street View – Declared as a National Cultural Treasure by the National Museum of the Philippines, and founded in 1571.
- St James the Apostle Church, Pampanga on Google Street View – Baroque style church established in 1607. National Cultural Treasure
- Sukhothai Historical Park – Virtual tour site by the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand.
- Temple Site at Phimai – A computer reconstruction of the Khmer temple site of Phimai.
- Trowulan – Virtual tour by the National Archaeology Center of Indonesia
- Virtual Angkor – Virtual Angkor is a groundbreaking collaboration between Virtual History Specialists, Archaeologists and Historians designed to bring the Cambodian metropolis of Angkor to life. Built for the classroom, it has been created to take students into a 3D world and to use this simulation to ask questions about Angkor’s place in larger networks of trade and diplomacy, its experience with climate variability and the structure of power and kingship that underpinned the city.
- Virtual Archaeology Tours – Portal by the Virtual tour by the National Archaeology Center of Indonesia
- Virtual Museum – Education portal by the Fine Arts Department of Thailand.
- Visualising Angkor – A selection of 3D Images, animations & 360 videos depicting daily life and cultural landscapes from Monash University’s ‘Visualising Angkor Project’
- Wang Jao Mueng Pattalung, Pattalung – 3D virtual model by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
- Wat Arun, Bangkok – Famous landmark in Bangkok. Virtual tour with commentary in Thai.
- Wat Bang Kung, Samut Songkhram – 3D virtual model by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
- Wat Nan Ta Ram, Phayao – 3D virtual model by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
- Wat Phra Mahathat, Nakhon Si Thammarat – 3D virtual model by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
- Wat Si Chum, Sukhothai – 3D virtual model by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
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Digital Object Collections and Virtual Museums
- Ancient Sculpture of Vietnam – 3D Virtual Museum – A virtual museum set up by Quang Tri Nguyen, which gives you an interactive close up on Vietnamese sculptures.
- ASEAN Cultural Heritage Digital Archive – The ASEAN Cultural Heritage Digital Archive (ACHDA) celebrates the rich and diverse cultural heritage of ASEAN, and showcases a veritable treasure trove of exemplary artefacts and history
- Bangkok National Museum – Virtual tour by the Fine Arts Department of Thailand
- British Museum collections – Browse over 4.5 million objects and 1.9 million images from the collection of the British Museum, which include items from Southeast Asia
- Ceramics in Mainland Southeast Asia – Collections of the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthuer M. Sackler Gallery
- East Burma Collection, The Museum of Natural and Cultural History, University of Oregon – Collection of Dr. Erik Hjalmar East, a medical missionary who worked in the Chin Highlands of Myanmar.
- Intramuros – The walled Spanish city of Manila has a section in Google Arts and Culture featuring online exhibits of sculpture collections and street views of various areas inside the city
- King Narai National Museum, Lopburi (Part 1) – 3D virtual model by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
- King Narai National Museum, Lopburi (Part 2) – 3D virtual model by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
- Museum Maritim Indonesia – The Maritime Museum in Jakarta.
- Museum Nasional Indonesia – Google Arts and Culture site with virtual tours of the grounds and close-ups of around 100 artifacts.
- National Museum of the Philippines – Virtual Tour
- Sangiran Museum Virtual Tour – By the Directorate-General of Culture, Republic of Indonesia
- Southeast Asian Archaeology at Sketchfab – My own personal collection of 3D models curated on Sketchfab. I occasionally record 3D models on my own, this collection is a mix of my own models and other models uploaded to the site.
- Virtual Collection of Masterpieces – Run by ASEMUS, a network of Asian and European museums, featuring some of the best offerings from the network’s collections.
Beyond Southeast Asia
- The Ultimate Guide to Virtual Museum Resources, E-Learning, and Online Collections – List by the MCN (Museum Computer Network)
- Best virtual tours of landmarks and museums you can take from your sofa – Mirror Online
- The 75 Best Virtual Museum Tours Around the World [Art, History, Science, and Technology] – Upgraded Points
News Archive
The news reports indexed below usually link to external sites that were active at the time of posting; sometimes websites may be temporarily down or may have reorganised their underlying architecture or have even closed down – in these cases the links may not be available. Most of the news articles archived are in English, although when I am made aware of stories in this and other languages I try to index them.
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