Virtual agents and 3D virtual worlds for preserving and simulating cultures

Many researchers associate a culture with some form of knowledge; other scholars stress the importance of the environment inhabited by the knowledge carriers; while archaeologists learn about cultures through the objects produced in the environment as a result of utilizing this knowledge. In our work we propose a model of virtual culture that preserves the environment, objects and knowledge associated with a certain culture in a 3D Virtual World. We highlight the significance of virtual agents in our model as, on the one hand, being the knowledge carriers and, on the other hand, being an important element establishing the connection between the environment, objects and knowledge. For testing the resulting model we have developed a research prototype simulating the culture of the ancient City of Uruk 3000 B. C. (one of the first human-built cities on Earth) within a Virtual World of Second Life.