Narrative Consumptionscapes between Modernity and Traditionality

What did a life between modernity and tradition mean 2500 years ago? In what way was this life characterised by tensions between cosmopolitanism and indigenousness, between world flair and local authenticity, between im- migrants and native inhabitants, especially in rural areas? These questions were pursued at Archaic M onte Iato (6th - 5th century B.C.) in the mountainous upland of western Sicily. The planned science communication project aims to provide an interactive 3D visualisation system that enables a virtual exploration of our research results regarding the tension between `modernity` and `tradition` at M onte Iato. This aim is to be achieved through `narrative consumptionscapes`, providing an interactive 3D exhibition that enables to click on a variety of consumption stories. The multimedia basis for this is the archaeological map, in which all multivariate data and spatial references are stored that our research has produced so far. This map will be transformed into a digital presentation medium which allows all the archaeological finds to act as narrators of their consumption stories. M ultiple starting points in the layout of the storyboard leave it up to the user to decide with which consumption story and in which consumptionscape he wants to start, thereby involving the user in the storytelling and keeping him interested. All of these virtually re-experienceable consumption stories finally lead - regardless of the starting point - to the same shared storyline: The old-established inhabitants of M onte Iato reacted to the tension between the new and old world by reviving presumed old traditions in their cultic centre and archaising religious rites to be considered as natives among themselves and towards others. Even today, the question of who is a native is still a highly explosive political issue. Hence the virtual exhibition on the Archaic M onte Iato is addressed at the broadest public possible. Three different zoom levels facilitate an increasingly deep insight into the mechanisms and logic of becoming native. The first zoom level reveals the process of becoming indigenous as a time- and context-related phenomenon on the Archaic M onte Iato. At the second and third zoom levels, the user can look beyond the socio-cultural surfaces of becoming native and per- ceive it as a process by which the old-established locals react to the threat they feel due to modernisation and immigration. A first test and improvement phase with virtual reality headset in the Visual Laboratory at the University of Inns- bruck, to which teachers and students as well as journalists and politicians are invited, will be followed by a per- manent 3D exhibition at the humanities research area of the University of Innsbruck, `Cultural Encounters - Cul- tural Conflicts`. To this end, a new format called "Interactive Encounters with ..." will be set up on the homepage of the research area under the heading "Dialogue". This format is intended to promote the virtual encounter with issues and research of the Research Area in a sustainable manner, including non-university audiences. The intro to this will be the interactive encounter with the Archaic M onte Iato.

In order to tell the historical story of the cult site of Monte Iato in the context of both 'modernity' and 'tradition', a Storymap was chosen as the primary tool. Within this digital platform, users can participate in a linear narrative experience guided by the inclusion of maps, plans and photographs. Complementing this narrative is the thoughtful provision of additional information on the subject under consideration through embedded hyperlinks. The most important feature of the Storymap, however, is its ability to explore traditional and cosmopolitan consumer landscapes. In this section, the traditional linear progression is disrupted, allowing users to navigate freely between these thematic areas as they see fit. Within this expansive scope, a comprehensive representation of the Monte Iato cult site emerges, with insights into the utilitarian aspects of the site, such as the types of drinking vessels and cooking utensils used during communal gatherings, alongside the study of animal and botanical remains recovered from archaeological excavations. This presentation aims to elucidate the multifaceted nature of the consumption patterns prevalent at the Monte Iato site, thereby shedding light on the different social identities that coexisted in this historical context. As a corollary, this historical perspective sensitises us to contemporary processes, underlined by recognising that our identities are fluid and adaptable, advocating an openness to new experiences.