ANCIENT TECH QUEST – UNEARTHED is a new, innovative educational app that allows students and adults alike to explore ancient Greek technology and cultural heritage through virtual reality (VR). Users can learn about ancient mechanisms, technological achievements, and archaeological finds, understand how they worked, and participate in interactive missions that connect the past with modern science and engineering.

The ANCIENT TECH QUEST – UNEARTHED app is a modern virtual reality (VR) educational environment designed to provide experiential learning through game-based learning. It leverages modern technologies and digital tools, transforming ancient technology from static knowledge into an active experience. Users take on the roles of explorers and engineers, activating ancient mechanisms, experimenting with the laws of physics, and examining authentic archaeological artifacts in a safe digital environment.

At the same time, the app has been designed with a focus on accessibility and inclusion, so that it can also be used by students with special educational needs and disabilities. It offers customized interaction and guidance features, ensuring an equitable educational experience for all users, regardless of their needs.

The AKETH PIRATES team of the Institute of Education and Innovation identified the problem of the limited experiential approach to ancient technology, designed the concept, and developed ANCIENT TECH QUEST – UNEARTHED in collaboration with educators and experts. The application was presented and tested with students, teachers, and the general public, aiming to highlight cultural heritage and foster the understanding that innovation is a timeless human process.

ANCIENT TECH QUEST received the Breakthrough Award at the FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge UNEARTHED 2026, recognizing its outstanding performance in both the Robot Game and the Innovation Project.

The AKETH PIRATES team that created ANCIENT TECH QUEST consists of: Panagiotis Avdelidis, Pantelis Varmbompis, Panagiotis Zalaggitis, Panagiotis Koutsostergios, Dimitrios Nimas, Alexandros Poulios, Christos Tzatzakis, Konstantinos Tsiolis, and their coaches Georgios Gidas, Achilleas Kostoulas, and Sotirios Rouvalis. The team was sponsored by STEM eshop and INEKA.