Hypermedia in archaeological exhibitions - different kinds of interactivity and visualization

This paper describes possibilities of hypermedia in archaelogical exhibitions concerning aspects of visualization and interactivity. It explains two very different kiosk systems which supported exhibitions at the Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Bonn) in 1997 and 1998. The first program deals with a very specific problem in (pre-) history regarding demographic data of the Scythians (nomadic horse-riding warriors which lived in the northern Black Sea region, ca. 7th-4th century B.C.). It offers both an adventure-like experiemental situation (including a simulation) and a small database to compare the experimental results with real archaelogical data. The second program covers general aspects of a whole archaeological culture (the Iberians, former inhabitants of the Mediteranean coast of the Iberian peninsula, ca. 8th-1st century B.C.). The visitors can explore seven themes ("daily life", "environment", "economy", "art", "religion", "settlements", "foreigners") and a time line with important events. one of the main tasks of this program is the possibility to allow the visitors realistic impressions of arcaeological sites. This was achieved by providing interactive panorama technology - without a "lost in space" feeling.