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An Example of a Virtual Walkabout
At this point it might be a good idea to have a look at a finished example of a walkabout, so you can get a feel for what you are aiming at. The Walkabout on this page was created by Professor Clive Ruggles at the University of Leicester. It is of the stone circle complex at Beaghmoor in Northern Ireland, which dates mainly to the late Bronze Age (Pilcher 1969; Ruggles 2001).
Click here for a new window containing the Beaghmore Walkabout, which is visible behind the 'I agree' statement.
The screen is divided into two halves, separated by a horizontal line. The top half of the screen has text describing the Walkabout. It includes the name of the Walkabout and some simple instructions on how to use it. In the lower half the screen there are three elements: a navigation panel, the viewer and the caption box. More information on each of these elements is given in the sections below:
The Navigation Panel
On the right hand side of the lower screen is the navigation panel. It comprises six arrows surrounding a button labelled 'start again'. You'll notice that some of the arrows are 'lit up', while the others remain 'dimmed'. In the walkabout, lit arrows indicate the directions in which you can move, while dimmed arrows tell you there are no images to be viewed in that direction.
As you move around the monument your choices of direction will change, and to help you decide which way to go there are small images (called thumbnails) that show you what you'll see if you move in that direction. An example is the small image located above the lit arrow at the start of the Beaghmore walkabout.
The Viewer Screen
This is the large image located on the left hand side of the lower screen. It shows the view from your current location in the Walkabout. Notice that as you make a move on the navigation panel the small thumbnail image next to the arrow moves to the viewer, so you can see the image in more detail. If you want to see the image in even larger format, just click on the viewer and a full-screen image will be opened up in a new window. To get back to the walkabout just close this window by clicking on the X in the top right-hand corner of the window.
The Caption Box
The caption box is located in the top left of the lower screen, directly above the viewer. It contains a few lines describing the image. You can use the scroll bar on the left-hand side of the caption box to scroll down the text, if it doesn't all fit into the box.
Now have a wander around Beaghmore. Return to this page after you have explored the archaeology of Beaghmore.
Hints and Tips
Moving Backwards. In the walkabout you can retrace your steps by clicking on the backwards arrow - but this could be confusing if you cross your own path in making the walkabout. If at any point during your walkabout you crossed over yourself (for instance, you may have chosen a route that does a 'figure of eight') pressing the back button will only take you back to the beginning avoiding any loops. For more about the back button see the help page and its associated diagrams.
Pilcher, J.R. 1969. Archaeology, palaeoecology and C14 dating of the Beaghmore stone circle site.
Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 32: 73-91.
Ruggles, C. 2002. "Astronomy, cosmology, monuments and landscape in prehistoric Ireland". In Astronomy, Cosmology and Landscape (ed. Ruggles, Prendergast and Ray), Ocarina/Oxbow, 51-71.
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