Journey to Holoscene: Guiding mastodons through time
An immersive VR adventure blending myth, science, and memory to revive the world of ancient mastodons
A project by Milena Malova, Noah Wendt, Omid Ameri & Stella Campana
Supervised by Prof. Dr. Frank Gabler & Prof. Philip Hausmeier
Project done in Study Semester 3 | Winter 2024/2025
About Project
Journey to Holoscene is a VR experience that brings the extinct Mammut Americanus (American mastodon) to life as part of an interactive exhibition at the Senckenberg Museum Frankfurt. Designed for the Meta Quest headset, the experience begins in a dark, cave-like setting where the user encounters a mystical shaman. After helping the shaman brew a potion, the user drinks it and is spiritually transported into the Holocene epoch, where mastodons still roamed the boreal forests.
There, users explore an ancient landscape alive with lush flora and fauna. They’re guided by the shaman—now transformed into an eagle—and meet a herd of mastodons. The player interacts with the creatures by feeding them, eventually earning their trust. When hunters begin to approach, the user helps the herd escape by riding one of the mastodons through a dense forest and across a river, evading danger.
As the experience concludes, the potion wears off and the user is brought back to the original cave. The shaman bids farewell and gifts the user a trinket, both in the virtual and real world. This physical takeaway, mirrored from the digital realm, deepens emotional impact and serves as a lasting memory of the visit.
Journey to Holoscene not only showcases ancient life but also integrates spiritual storytelling, museum context, and emotional engagement. The physical installation includes an artificial cave entrance next to the real mastodon skeleton, enhancing spatial continuity between real and virtual worlds. The project is a vivid example of how immersive media can bridge education and imagination—inviting visitors to connect with the past in a tangible, meaningful way.