iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

APSAP is heading to #ARISC_20th Conference! 📅 THU, Sep 17 Hayk Azizbekyan will be #first presenter with: Spatial Analysis of Archaeological Excavation Data through MR/ AR 📅 SAT, Sep 19 Yishu Deng will explore broader regional connections through Archaeology. 🔗 site.pheedloop.com/event/ARISC2...

Photos of Hayk Azizbekyan and Yishu Deng doing their research on excavation site, with the titles of their presentation on the image

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Before tripadvisor, guidebooks decided what was "worth seeing." Prof. Elvan Cobb (HKBU) takes us back to the Mediterranean of 1881–1911 to uncover how guidebooks curated the touristic gaze. 📅16 SEP 2026 (Wed) | 16:00–17:00 HKT 📍CPD-2.45, 2/F, The Jockey Club Tower, HKU hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hd...

Details of the talk and a picture of Prof. Elvan Cobb

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

🎉Congrats to APSAP on receiving HKU’s Faculty Knowledge Exchange Award 2026 for “Understanding Our Shared Human Past through Archaeology.” We’re grateful to Prof. Caitlin Curtis Whitaker and the Armenian Heritage Development Foundation for collaboration! www.ke.hku.hk/spotlight/fa...

Photos of the students using VR headsets, doing stimulated digging alongside the Faculty Knowledge Exchange Award 2026.

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

New Course: ARCL1001: Archaeology Around the Globe We invite all HKU undergraduate students to explore the wonders of the human past in our brand new course, ARCL1001! Open to all, no prior coursework is necessary. Sign up on August 4! Course meeting time: Semester 1, Fall 2026, Tues 2-3:50pm.

image with photos of Machu Picchu, ceramic pot, a kneeling Terracotta Warrior, ecavation site, pyramid and Aztec Sun Stone

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

📚New Publication 'Infrastructured Landscapes: Spatial Histories of Early Ottoman Railways' by Prof Elvan Cobb from the Department of History at HK Baptist University. The Open Access book explores the significance of early Ottoman railways in western Anatolia.📖 Book link: brill.com/display/titl...

Book cover of Infrastructured Landscapes: Spatial Histories of Early Ottoman Railways by Elvan Cobb, placed over a historical image of an Ottoman railway station.

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

New introductory HKU course ARCL1001 on Global Archaeology debuts, and ARCL2020 Archaeological Fieldwork and CCHU9080 for academic year 2026/27. No background needed – explore global wonders, dig into real archaeological sites, or rethink material culture with us – All you need is curiosity.

an image combining the photos from 3 courses in 2026/2027 academic year

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

The final, Day 5, of "Digging the Past (ACT260321)"! HKU Academy for the Talented Dr Shengyu Wang, an experienced curator for museums shared about the behind-the-scenes decisions. Afterwards, our students made their own exhibitions based on their finds from Day 3 with beautiful displays!

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Highschoolers from the HKU Academy of the Talented explored the next steps of archaeology beyond just excavation! On Day 4 of “Digging the Past!” they performed ceramic conservation and visited the Palace Museum. Friday is the last day of teaching, stay tuned!

photos of secondary school students visiting the HK Palace Museum

photos of secondary school students having ceramics conservation workshop

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Day 3 of "Digging the Past! Archaeology and Technology for Understanding the Humans Who Came Before Us"-Secondary school students built their own archaeological contexts, and used clay to sculpt their own pottery vessels! Look at their marvelous oinochoes, amphoras, animal jars and more!

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Day 2 of summer course "Digging the Past! Archaeology and Technology for Understanding the Humans Who Came Before Us"! We visited Wun Yiu Klin to see the remains of an animal-driven grinder and pottery fragments. Students learnt about Archaeometallurgy and lithics analysis with the hands-on designs!

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Day 1 of HKU Academy for the Talented summer course 'Digging the Past! Archaeology and Technology for Understanding the Humans Who Came Before Us'! Secondary school students began by doing a simulated dig, learning different branches of archaeology, and recreating an archaeological site digitally!

image of students digging from a box of sand and the title of the summer course

image of students digging from a box of sand and the photo of students observing specimens

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Read new student blog by Pang Ching about joining an archaeological field project in Armenia! Follow the journey from the first days in the lab to working at the excavation site, learning archaeological methods, and becoming part of an international research team. openarchaeology.org/armenia/2026...

Student photo of an archaeological excavation site in Armenia next to a screenshot of the student's blog webpage.

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Surface survey completed, APSAP has moved into full excavation! After clearing weeds and loosening the topsoil, students sieved soil to sort out pottery, stone and bones. At the end of each day, they swept and vacuumed the site. The process was so fascinating—You never know what you'll find.

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Back on the slopes for the 2026 field season with the APSAP Project and #HKU ARTH2110 students! Our first day in the landscape of Armenia was all about pottery ID, surface surveying, teamwork, and careful searching for new material remains. A great start to the season!

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Celebrating the vibrant HKU Student Learning Festival on 29 April 2026. Displaying students’ work from the course CCHU9080 ‘Dead People’s Things: Excavating the Past with Archaeology’, our booth presented a fusion of archaeology and VR technology on campus. commoncore.hku.hk/event/studen...

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

HKU Students had a fun hands-on learning experience in the Common Core course CCHU9080 Dead People’s Things: Excavating the Past with Archaeology. Students explored the meaning and value of everyday objects in creative ways and crafted unique artefacts with #play-doh. commoncore.hku.hk/cchu9080

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Secondary School students, join us at HKU Academy for the Talented this summer and do archaeology with your own hands. Register: talented.hku.hk/hku_programm... Partially inspired by a summer programme co-developed by Armenian Heritage Development Foundation: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

an image to promote ‘Digging the Past’ summer program with a photo of an excavation site in the background

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

HKU Faculty of Education colleagues’ articles about supporting grad students in Writing for Publication in @berj-2025.bsky.social / @livunipress.bsky.social : bera-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/... www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/10.3828/... doi.org/10.1017/aap....

an image showing the screen shots of the 2 articles published in BERA and Liverpool University Press

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

✨ Thank you for visiting us at Jumpstarter 2026 ✨ We were excited to be part of this dynamic and innovative event and to show how our interactive XR tools can support archaeological research and excavation. More from APSAP coming soon. Stay tuned! 🔗 www.jumpstarter.hk

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Our publication 'From the field to the museum: engaging young Armenians in the complete life-cycle of archaeological artifacts' in @tandfresearch.bsky.social has 700+ views! It is about an educational program in partnership with Armenian Heritage Development Foundation. doi.org/10.1080/2051...

Image showing a published article and students taking part in an archaeological excavation

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

The Faculty of Arts, HKU is recruiting a Lecturer in the interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Digital Technologies programme. If you’re excited about interdisciplinary teaching and digital innovation in the arts, consider applying! jobs.hku.hk/en/job/53476...

an image with outlines of HKU campus and recruitment details of lecturer in BA(HDT) programme

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

Secondary school students: Join the HKU Academy for the Talented summer program to uncover the human past through the objects and spaces left behind. You’ll conduct excavations, analyze finds, and create an exhibit! Come dig, discover, and bring the past to life! talented.hku.hk/hku_programm...

image showing an ancient temple and details of the HKU archaeology summer program

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

🎉New article by HKU’s Prof. Lukas Liu et al: “Mapping Evidence-Based XR Experiences in Archaeology Education: A Systematic Review,” explores #XR in #archaeology education and the importance of instructional design. doi.org/10.1016/j.ce... related to: digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/jae/vol8/iss...

An image featuring a research article together with a portrait of Professor Lukas Liu

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Congrats to Mechanical Engineering on the opening of HKU Engineering MSc Student Commons on 11 Feb 26—a dedicated space to Meet, Study, Collab. We are delighted to be able to work together each year with Mechnical Engineering Masters students on their dissertations. www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5pz...

an image with photos taken in the new HKU Engineering MSc Student Commons and its opening ceremony

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Thrilled to share that Hayk Azizbekyan delivered a compelling presentation on 3D MR/AR with AI in Archaeological Fieldwork at the Hong Kong Association for Digital Humanities 2026 Conference! The event at CUHK explored AI, multimodality, and digital humanities across diverse fields. 2026.hkadh.org

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Congratulations to our team, including PJ Cobb, E Cobb, H Azizbekyan, A Petrosyan, and B Gasparyan, for HKU Research Output Prize 2024-2025, the article: "Defending the Vedi River Valley of Armenia" by Bulletin of @asor-research.bsky.social. doi.org/10.1086/732090

photos of the team in the Vedi Fortress and a bird’s-eye view of the of Vedi Fortress

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

Thanks CTTN for featuring our APSAP project! We're excited to share updates on our 4th season of fieldwork in the Vedi River Valley, Armenia in summer 2025. CTTN is an interdisciplinary network focused on #Caucasus #archaeology and the past. Subscribe here: 🔗 sway.cloud.microsoft/CrhnJsdAZ0Ha...

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

📢Our Open Access article “Designing the Ideal MR Headset for Archaeological Fieldwork” is published in #XR Extended Reality by @springernature.com ! We present our suggestions for building a better MR headset for fieldwork. 🔗 doi.org/10.1007/978-...

Image showing the published article alongside its book cover

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

How is lidar reshaping how we talk about the past? An open-access article in @saa-aap.bsky.social shows how recent lidar work gets recast as finding “lost cities.” Lidar is revolutionizing archaeological mapping, but responsible storytelling matters as much as the data. doi.org/10.1017/aap....

image showing cover of Advances in Archaeological Practice and screenshot of the article on a computer screen

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

✨Thank you, SIGGRAPH Asia 2025! ✨Thanks for visiting our booth and exploring our project, “Immersive Interaction & Interpretation of Ancient Spatial & Shape Data”. It was inspiring to share how XR tools support archaeological research via hands-on XR experience and engaging conversations with you.

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Our project is exhibited at SIGGRAPH Asia 2025! 🎉Come join us to explore how interactive XR tools can support archaeological research. 📅Dec 15–18, 2025 📍HK Convention and Exhibition Centre Article: doi.org/10.1145/3761... 🎥Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSqv... 🔗Event: asia.siggraph.org/2025

A photo of an archaeological excavation site overlaid with a website image of the SIGGRAPH Asia 2025 event.

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

So thrilled to see our paper “Defending the Vedi River Valley of Armenia” published by @asor-research.bsky.social & @uchicagopress.bsky.social reached 2200+ views — thanks for your support! Vedi River Valley is a key corridor connecting Ararat Plain and surrounding mountains. doi.org/10.1086/732090

Screencap of the article showing the number of views

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Our Open Access article “Immersing in Mesopotamia: VR Site Tours in the Remote Classroom,” published by @asor-research.bsky.social, reached 2200+ views. It explores how immersive VR site tours can transform the ways we teach and learn in an archaeology university course. doi.org/10.1086/725775

Screencap of the article showing a student wearing a VR headset and the cover of Near Eastern Archaeology

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Our Open Access article: “The Apple Vision Pro: Useful MR/AR Headset for Archaeology or Not Quite There Yet?” in @saa-aap.bsky.social of @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org assesses the Apple VisionPro’s potential for archaeological fieldwork, data visualization and engagement. doi.org/10.1017/aap....

Image with cover of Advances in Archaeological Practice and side view of user wearing the Vision Pro

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

Proud moment for HKU — ranked #1 in Asia by the global higher education analytics organisation Quacquarelli Symonds in QS World University ranking 2026. This recognition reaffirms the University’s sustained leadership across Asia's academic landscape.

image showing HKU ranked the first in Asia with 3 photos of pottery

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Thank you for joining us at the Info Day at HKU on October 25. We loved sharing our project and meeting so many amazing participants who enjoyed our AR/VR experience of an ancient site! Stay tuned for more updates — follow us 👉 @apsap.bsky.social or other platforms: linktr.ee/apsap

Participants experiencing our VR tour in Arts Tech Lab

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Immersive Archaeology: Securing the Human Past with Cutting-edge Technologies by Keynotes HKU. Researchers are advancing archaeology through 3D scanning, #drones and #MR. Their work redefines excavation by allowing archaeologists to preserve while discovering. www.keynotes.hku.hk/story/immers...

Image of a VR headset user with HKU students excavating in the background

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

✨The #Extended #Reality in #Archaeology event concluded successfully! 🏛️💫Huge thanks to CUHK Libraries and CUHK Archaeology for hosting and supporting this inspiring session, participants explored how #technology and #archaeology come together in innovative ways. Here’s to more discoveries ahead!🚀✨

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

Thank you for visiting our VR booth at InnoCarnival 2025! Our project ‘Extended Reality for Studying and Teaching Human Past’ is now on display till this Sunday. Perfect for families! 📍Booth D04, 1/F Grand Hall, 12W, Hong Kong Science Park 📅Oct 18–26, 2025 🕙Weekend 10:00–18:00｜Weekday 10:00–17:00

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Come visit us on HKU Information Day 2025 and discover the world of VR and AR Archaeology with the BA(HDT) program! Explore virtual reconstructions of an ancient site and our APSAP project in Armenia! Time: Oct 25 (Sat) 10:00-16:00 Venue: Arts Tech Lab (CPD-4.35, RRST, HKU) hdt.arts.hku.hk

Photo of students experiencing our VR tour and background showing the view from a VR headset

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Join our VR/MR tour at HKU’s booth at InnoCarnival 2025! Discover how XR helps study human past in immersive ways. Experience ancient sites in 3D-fun for kids, teens and families! 📍Booth D04, 1/F Grand Hall, 12W, Hong Kong Science Park 📅Oct 18–26, 2025 🕙Weekends 10:00–18:00| Weekdays 10:00–17:00

A photo showing a child wearing a VR headset to explore the archaeological site and an archaeologist wearing an MR headset to help with excavation.

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

Join us at CUHK for a dynamic talk on how VR, AR, and MR go beyond entertainment to revolutionize archaeology and education. Experience a live demo showing how these innovations transform teaching, tourism, and data collection. Register: cloud.itsc.cuhk.edu.hk/mycuform/vie... Don’t miss out!

image of VR Headset, details about the workshop

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

On 16 Sept at the InnoWing, visitors joined a VR tour of Armenia’s Vedi Fortress. They explored a 3D reconstruction of the Late Bronze and Iron Age structure to learn more about the past and technology. Thank you to everyone, and please join our SIG: innowings.engg.hku.hk/apsap/

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 22/09/2025

🌪️ Due to Typhoon Ragasa, our exciting talk by HKU team on immersive tech & archaeology has been rescheduled for everyone's safety. 🗓️ New Time: Oct 8 (Wed) 10:30-12:30, 2025 📍 Venue: Learning Garden & Maker Space, LG/F University Library, CUHK Supported by rihcuhk, anthrocu & cuhklibraries💜

Photo of Learning Garden & Maker Space, University Library, CUHK and a user with a VR headset being blown away

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

Exploring the Past Through Innovation Join us at the HKU Innowing Carnival 2025 for a special talk on how technology is helping us better understand the ancient world. 🗓️Sept 25 | 14:30–15:30 📍Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing One, HKU 📌LED Wall & Brainstorming Area hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hd...

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

Thanks @saa-aap.bsky.social for the APSAP-related covers of Vol. 11(4) and Vol. 7(4)! AAP covers spotlight the people, places, and communities that bring archaeology to life. Read more: www.cambridge.org/core/blog/20...

Cover images of Advances in Archaeological Practice featuring APSAP, highlighting archaeology as a people-centered practice.

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Huge thanks to the three editors, Christina B. Rieth, Sarah A. Herr and Sjoerd van der Linde, for running the @saa-aap.bsky.social of @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org for the last few years, it was a great experience to work with them on the digital reviews! 👏📚 www.cambridge.org/core/blog/20...

Photo of ‘Advances’ confectionery, enjoyed one year by delegates at the SAA Annual Meeting.

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Step into the future with HKU's ELEC4547: Emerging Tech in VR/AR 🚀 Explore how humans interact with digital worlds through optics, haptics and perception. This hands-on, technical course covers hardware and software💡Let's build a functional VR headset📍Register: hku.welight.fun/projects/2_p...

A student wearing a VR headset, surrounded by glowing digital graphics and holograms, symbolizing immersive technology and virtual/augmented reality learning.

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

Have you been thinking about how digital technologies will impact Archaeological Labor Management? Consider submitting a Digital Review on this topic to @saa-aap.bsky.social by @cambup-archaeology.cambridge.org. Submit a Digital Review abstract by Sept 1. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

image of archaeologists working in the field

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Ararat Plain Southeast Archaeological Project (APSAP) @apsap.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

We sincerely thank the leadership of AirWorker, an engineering company specializing in clean, sustainable wind energy in Armenia, for visiting us in the field on 6 July. Your visit was greatly appreciated, and we look forward to future collaboration!

A photo of the management of AirWorker and our team in Armenia

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