The Palarq Foundation brings archaeology into the classroom with the serious game Archaeologist

The Palarq Foundation has taken a step forward in promoting archaeology. The organisation, well known for supporting archaeological projects around the world and enabling major historical discoveries, believes it is essential to introduce and strengthen archaeology in education so that young people appreciate and understand it better. That is why it has decided to back the roll-out of the serious game Archaeologist, conceived and created in Spain, in 20 state schools across the country, with the aim of sharing this fascinating science with students aged 11 to 18 in an interactive, gamified way.

Archaeologist is a video game designed by experts in education, archaeology and technology to provide an immersive, hands-on archaeology experience. Aimed at students aged 11 and over, the game lets pupils work as real archaeologists, exploring virtual sites and solving puzzles based on archaeological clues. The game, available for computers and Chromebooks, combines adventure and problem-solving, offering an educational platform that complements the traditional curriculum in subjects such as history, social sciences and technology.

The Palarq Foundation selected 20 state schools in several provinces, including Barcelona, Asturias, Cantabria, the Balearic Islands, Castellón, Málaga, Madrid, Pontevedra, Valencia and Alicante, to take part in this pilot initiative. Each school received free licences for 100 students, allowing a broad sample of pupils to experience the benefits of the tool. This distribution was strategic, making it possible to assess the game's impact in different educational and geographical contexts and gather data to improve and expand the project in the future.

The preliminary results have been very positive. Teachers have rated the game highly as a teaching tool, highlighting its ability to increase student participation and interest in lessons. Many have seen how the serious game helps develop critical skills in the classroom such as analytical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration. The game has also made teaching easier by providing an interactive, flexible resource that fits easily into the school curriculum.

Both primary and secondary students took an active part in the initiative, playing the game in a range of subjects such as computing, Spanish, English, history and geography, thanks to its versatility.

The game's interactivity and realism let students experience first-hand what an archaeologist's work is like, using virtual tools and analysing finds in a virtual laboratory. According to Andreu Florit, CEO of Archaeologist, “our aim in developing this serious game was to make learning archaeology easier through first-hand experimentation and gamified, motivating content. That's why we are delighted to see students get involved and develop a special appreciation for archaeology after playing.”

The game involves solving the mysteries of eight sites in five countries: Spain, France, Egypt, Italy and England. This virtual journey takes students from prehistory to the early modern period, introducing them to prehistoric people, Egyptian culture, the Roman Empire and the Muslim and Christian societies of the Middle Ages and early modern times. Through this exploration, students not only learn about different historical periods but also develop research and critical-analysis skills.

The Palarq Foundation sees the initiative as an opportunity to promote archaeological knowledge and make archaeology an accessible and exciting science for new generations. In the words of a Palarq spokesperson, “Archaeologist is an excellent tool for making archaeology accessible and exciting for young students. We are proud to sponsor an initiative that combines learning and entertainment so effectively.” The Foundation plans to continue assessing the game's impact and to explore ways of extending its use to more schools in the future.

The Palarq Foundation therefore invites other schools and organisations interested in education and archaeology to follow the initiative closely and consider bringing Archaeologist into their teaching programmes.