About the Project

Digital US Southwest

The project Digital US Southwest: Interactive Platform of Native American and Euro-American Cultural Interactions will consist of creating an interactive online platform that will bring together and popularize some aspects of archaeology and history of American Indian cultures from the pre-Hispanic and historic US Southwest and Euro-American settlers. It will be provided with focus on the digital technologies, including digital photography (also enhanced), videos, virtual reconstructions and 3D visualizations. Great emphasis will be placed on the education, dialogue and cooperation of scientists (archaeologists, anthropologists) with Native Americans.

The platform presents to audiences, especially young generation in Poland, the richness and diversity of American culture by promoting cultural dialogue and person-to-person contacts in US-Polish relations (e.g. Polish archaeological research conducted in Colorado in cooperation with American institutions). The Project is financed by from U.S. Department of State–Federal Assistance/ U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Poland Grant Application.

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Project’s main goals:

  • Creating an online platform including new and innovative methods for searching and exploring different Native American cultures and tribes from the US Southwest from the pre-Hispanic times until today
  • Stimulating research and dialogue among archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians with tribal members, and the interested public
  • Efforts in increasing the knowledge about Native American societies and to some extent Euro-American settlers (besides the stereotypes) in Europe and Poland, with particular focus on the education of young audiences in history and archaeology using innovative methods and ways of presentation
  • Promoting collaborative archaeological projects in the American Southwest, also between USA and Poland (e.g. activities of Sand Canyon-Castle Rock Archaeological Project, led since 2011 in the Mesa Verde region, Colorado by the Jagiellonian University, focusing on the scientific investigations, including participation of students, and efforts of cooperation between scholars and different native groups, including Hopi)
  • The platform (in Polish and English), will be the first of its kind in Poland to present knowledge of archaeology and history of the American Southwest for the general public, and also cultivate sensitivity to the dialogue between indigenous communities and the world of science.

Project’s Coordinator:

Radosław Palonka, Ph.D., Department of New World Archaeology, Institute of Archaeology, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland and Crow Canyon Archaeological Center/ Crow Canyon Research Institute, USA.

Participants and Co-Investigators:

Jakub Śliwa, M.A., photographer, ethnologist, and expert on the developed methods of digital photography with extensive experience in digital photography and conservation of North American well as medieval European heritage.

Bolesław Zych, M.A., archaeologist with extensive experience in application of new technologies in archeology, including photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) as well as working in the virtual environment.

Dorian Kominek, M.A., archaeologist, 3D environment specialist, and graphic designer.