Use of GIS in archaeology

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GIS or Geographic Information Systems has become an important tool for archaeologists.

Individuals studying archaeology were some of the early adopters, users, and developers of GIS and GISCience, Geographic Information Science. This was logical since archaeology is the study of the spatial dimension of human behavior over time.

Since archaeology looks at the unfolding of historical events through geography, time and culture, the studies are rich in information and have unlimited results that are possible to reach. GIS is adept at processing these large volumes of data especially that which is geographically referenced. It is a cost effective, accurate and a faster tool that can aid archaeology. The tools made available through GIS help in data collection, its storage and retrieval, its manipulation for customized circumstances and finally, to the display of the data that is visually comprehensible to the user.

[edit] GIS in Survey

Survey and documentation are important to preservation and archaeology and GIS makes this research and fieldwork efficient and precise. This research done using GIS capabilities is used as a decision making tool to prevent loss of relevant information that could impact archaeological sites and studies. It is a significant tool that contributes to regional planning and for cultural resource management to protect resources that are valuable through the acquisition and maintenance of data about historical sites.

In archaeology, GIS increases the ability to map and record data when it is used directly at the excavation site. This allows for immediate access to the data collected for analysis and visualization as an isolated study or it can be incorporated with other relevant data sources to help understand the site and its findings better.

The ability of GIS to model and predict likely archaeological sites is used by companies that are involved with utilizing vast tracts of land resources like the Department of Transportation. Section 106 of the National Preservation Act specifically requires historical sites as well as others to be assessed for impact through federally funded projects. Using GIS to assess archaeological sites that may exist or be of importance can be identified through predictive modeling. These studies and results are then used by the management to make relevant decisions and plan for future development. GIS makes this process less time consuming and precise.

There are different processes and GIS functionalities that are used in archaeological research. Intrasite spatial analysis or distributional analysis of the information on the site helps in understanding the formation, process of change and in documentation of the site. This leads to research, analysis and conclusions. The old methods utilized for this provide limited exposure to the site and provide only a small picture of patterns over broad spaces. Predictive modeling is used through data acquisition like that of hydrography and hypsography to develop models along with archaeological data for better analysis. Point data in GIS is used to focus on point locations and to analyze trends in data sets or to interpolate scattered points. Density mapping is done for the analysis of location trends and interpolation is done to aid surface findings through the creation of surfaces through point data and is used to find occupied levels in a site. Areal data is more commonly used. It focuses on the landscape and the region and helps interpret archaeological sites in their context and settings. Areal data is analyzed through predictive modeling which is used to predict location of sites and material in a region. It is based on the available knowledge, method of prediction and on the actual results. This is used primarily in cultural resource management.

[edit] GIS in Catchment Analysis

Catchment analysis is the analysis of catchment areas. Since GIS can maintain multiple original categories of data, it allows for an increased complexity in the analysis and allows for addition of data that are complex in shape. Viewshed analysis is the study where visibility is used as a function to provide a basis for interpolation of a past landscape. It studies the visible areas from a single location. This is used to understand the social landscape and the elements that make it. Simulation is a simplified representation of reality and the process of evolution of a site. It is the model of a phenomenon made by identifying key variables and their interactions. This is used to clearly think through problem formulation, as an experimental lab and also as a means to generate data.

In recent years, it has become clear that archaeologists will only be able to harvest the full potential of GIS or any other spatial technology if they become aware of the specific pitfalls and potentials inherent in the archaeological data and research process. Archaeoinformation science attempts to uncover and explore spatial and temporal patterns and properties in archaeology. Fundamental research towards a self-sufficient archaeological approach to information processing produces quantitative methods and computer software specifically geared towards archaeological problem solving and understanding.