Virtual tour of ancient tomb recreated inside computer game Minecraft

Schoolchildren have been able to explore an ancient prehistoric tomb in Wales after it was recreated by archaeologists inside hit computer game Minecraft.

Dr Seren Griffiths and Dr Ben Edwards from Manchester Metropolitan University, with Dr Ffion Reynolds of Cadw – the Welsh Government’s historic environment service ­– are leading the project to create an interactive, virtual tour of Bryn Celli Ddu, that allows young people to explore one of the most impressive Neolithic burial monuments in the British Isles.

The world is available for all children in the UK via the education version of Minecraft.

It is part of revised plans from the Bryn Celli Ddu public archaeology landscape project, which has been working with the local community on the island of Anglesey in Wales over the last five years to unearth the tomb and its surrounding landscapes.

All the planned events have now been cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic and it forced the team to create digital content instead for pupils and parents stuck at home due to the lockdown.