New kid's Israeli archaeology game launched for iPhone

The Israel Antiquities Authority's ‘Dig Quest: Israel’ app features Dead Sea Scrolls, Genesis, 10 Commandments and psalms.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
An image from the IAA’s 'Dig Quest: Israel' app (photo credit: Israel Antiquities Authority)
An image from the IAA’s 'Dig Quest: Israel' app
(photo credit: Israel Antiquities Authority)
The Antiquities Authority announced on Thursday the release of a new app that will allow children to learn about the greatest archeological discoveries of the past 2,000 years, including the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Called “Dig Quest: Israel,” the authority said the “app transforms a kid’s iPhone or iPad into an archeological tool and lets them play games to hone their skills, discover secret meanings, solve puzzles and piece the past together like true archeologists.”
The games were developed in collaboration with the Antiquities Authority’s team of preeminent archeologists and researchers, the organization said.
“As they play, kids get a feel for what archeologists do as they experience the excitement of discovery and the creativity and skills involved in solving mysteries from the distant past,” the authority said.
According to the storied organization, players select between two dig sites, each of which has a unique game that allows children between the ages of seven to 11 to develop different archeological skills.
“At Lod, you clear the dirt to uncover an ancient Roman period mosaic, and then play a fast-paced quiz-style game using your smarts and powers of observation to identify and classify the animals and objects on the mosaic,” the organization said.
“In the Qumran caves, you discover fragments of the 2,000 year-old Dead Sea Scrolls that you piece together in a puzzle game,” it continued.
“Then you scan the scrolls to reveal their text more clearly, mirroring the advanced spectral imaging process performed by the IAA [Antiquities Authority] team in the laboratories.”
Each site features discoveries for players to uncover that explain more about the story of the excavation and the artifacts found, which the authority said players can collect.
The app features more than 30 levels in two unique games based on two world-famous archeological discoveries; 50 images of significant historical treasures; interesting historical and archeological facts and artifacts; translated and spoken excerpts from the Dead Sea Scrolls; and a collection box, where players store artifacts and discoveries, the organization said.
An archeologist character named Gabe, who was inspired by a collection of real Antiquities Authority archaeologists, guides children throughout the games.
Additional games are being planned, the authority said, all of which will be available on Android phones as well.


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