Re-creating Pre-Columbian Life in the Baures Region of the Bolivian Amazon

In an effort to "people the everyday past" using Virtual Reality, we chose the Baures region of modern-day Bolivia in the Amazon basin. The indigenous pre-Columbian inhabitants converted vast wetlands and savanna into a highly productive anthropogenic landscape. We created a digital reconstruction of typical Baures topography, vegetation, earthworks, seasonal changes, and authentic 3D objects to produce a real-time virtual experience for introducing the region, its inhabitants, their material culture, and daily activities. Our emphasis has been on interdisciplinary pedagogy, public engagement, user immersion, scientific accuracy, and cultural relevance.