Digital Archaeology

Designing the Digital Archaeological Record: Collecting, Preserving, and Sharing Archaeological Information

by Russell Alleen-Willems

Master's Thesis at Northern Arizona University, 2012.

Archaeological digital data, like archaeological artifacts, are non-renewable resources that, once lost, are gone... more Archaeological digital data, like archaeological artifacts, are non-renewable resources that, once lost, are gone forever. Because digital data are so new in comparison to paper records, archaeologists lose data frighteningly often. First, this thesis
summarizes my experience interning with Digital Antiquity, an organization specializing in preserving digital data. Second, this thesis details considerations in preparing, storing, and disseminating digital archaeological information. Finally, this thesis describes potential cultural, professional and educational concerns for users of digital archaeological repositories. As archaeologists create greater amounts of digital data, the
digital curation crisis will grow. While a perfect solution has not yet been implemented, pioneering archaeologists have identified steps every archaeologist can follow to ensure that the fruits of their intellectual labors are not lost, while at the same time taking
advantage of the unique properties of digital data to improve data and information sharing and use in archaeology.

Digital data are useful in ways that data on paper are not and cannot be. Digital data allow archaeologists to collaborate on large projects, communicate more effectively, and even reconstruct entire excavations. However, digital data are also far less stable than paper records. While a paper record may last well over a thousand years if kept in the right conditions, digital data are often unreadable in less than ten years, even when
traditional preservation methods are used.

Digital storage is becoming the norm for archaeological publication, even though most archaeologists probably do not consider the downsides of digital publication. Moreover, many specialized archaeological data only exist in digital formats (e.g., laser scans, digital photographs, extensive databases) and archaeologists will (and have) lost these datasets because of faults in digital preservation. Digital data often represent the
only record left after archaeologists excavate a site, and the loss of such valuable data is akin to bulldozing a site.

This thesis details my experiences during my internship at Digital Antiquity (an organization which specializes in data archiving), provides examples of other projects working on the digital curation crisis and gray literature problems, and finally discusses
the needs that these organizations may not be considering fully in their plans. This information will provide a primer for archaeologists about what and who to consider when creating, publishing, and storing data and information in digital formats.

Reconstrucción virtual de un túmulo funerario neolítico.

by Francisco José López Fraile

Se presenta una infografía didáctica de la secuencia constructiva de un túmulo megalítico, siguiendo la tipología de las estructuras de época neolítica documentadas en Villaviciosa (Asturias). Se pueden distinguir en las sucesivas fases constructivas la cámara formada por megalitos, los estratos de compactación de bloques y las coberteras de tierra.

Varouhakis V., Fiolitaki A. & Psarakis K. (2010), "Digitizing of icons and relics from the monasteries of Gonia, Chania and Preveli, Rethymnon and the Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Ceramics from the Prefecture of Chania"

by Vassilis Varouhakis

Varouhakis V., Fiolitaki A. & Psarakis K. (2010), "Digitizing of icons and relics from the monasteries of Gonia, Chania and Preveli, Rethymnon and the Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Ceramics from the Prefecture of Chania" in Andrianakis M. & Tzachili I. (eds.) Archaeological work in Crete 1: proceedings of the 1st meeting, Rethymnon, 28-30 November 2008, Rethymnon, 803-813 / Βασίλης Βαρουχάκης, Αναστασία Φιολιτάκη & Κωνσταντίνος Ψαράκης (2010), ‘Ψηφιοποίηση των εικόνων και κειμηλίων των Μονών Γωνιάς Χανίων και Πρέβελη Ρεθύμνου και της βυζαντινής και μεταβυζαντινής κεραμικής Νομού Χανίων στο Ανδριανάκης Μ. & Τζαχίλη Ι. (επιμ.), Αρχαιολογικό έργο Κρήτης 1 : πρακτικά της 1ης συνάντησης, Ρέθυμνο, 28-30 Νοεμβρίου 2008, Ρέθυμνο, 803-813.

The period from July to December 2007 the 28th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquites, in collaboration with the Labortory... more The period from July to December 2007 the 28th Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquites, in collaboration with the Labortory of DML and the Centre for Technological Research of the TEI (Technological Education Institute) of Crete, conducted a broad program of recording and digitizing the icons and relics of the Gonia Monastery in Chania and Preveli Monastery in Rethymnon, and the Byzantine & Post-Byzantine pottery of the Prefecture of Chania. The project was included by the Region of Crete in the EU program "Information Society". During the program, two Microsoft Access databases, one for the two monasteries and one for the ceramics, were designed and used for the recording of data. Both of the monasteries had a large collection of icons and old printed books, in addition to fine work and textile relics. As for the pottery, the most representative part from the workshops of the Ephorate and the Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Collection of Chania was that of the Castel Selino fortress in Paleochora, rich in numbers, decoration and style variety. besides access to the general public through the internet, this massive registration offered new and improved conditions for research and publication on a large piece of cultural heritage.

Enfoques metodológicos para prospecciones geoarqueológicas y arqueopaleontológicas en infraestructuras lineales de la Comunidad de Madrid: los proyectos de cierre de la M-50 (El Pardo) y de la Línea de Alta Velocidad Madrid-Levante (Tramo Torrejón de Velasco-Seseña)

by Francisco José López Fraile

LÓPEZ FRAILE, F.J.; LÓPEZ RECIO, M.; MORÍN, J.; TAPIAS, F.; ALARCÓN, A.; BENITO, L.; DONES, V.; ESCOLÀ, M.; GOROSARRI, J., published in "Actas de las Cuartas Jornadas de Patrimonio Arqueológico en la Comunidad de Madrid (MAR, Alcalá de Henares, nov. 2007)", 2009, pp: 203-215.

Aplicaciones informáticas destinadas a la documentación arqueológica: dos años de trabajo en la Comunidad de Madrid (M-30, Metro, colectores y edificación)

by Francisco José López Fraile

LÓPEZ FRAILE, F.J., pubished in "Actas de las Terceras Jornadas de Patrimonio Arqueológico en la Comunidad de Madrid (nov.-dic. 2006)", 2009, pp: 177-183.

La infografía 3D como sistema de documentación y divulgación

by Francisco José López Fraile

LÓPEZ FRAILE, F.J., published in “Primer Simposio de la Investigación y Difusión Arqueopaleontológica en el Marco de la Iniciativa Privada. Primer Simposio AUDEMA”, 2007, pp: 429-444.

Reconstrucción virtual de una vivienda talayótica

by Francisco José López Fraile

Realizada para Amalia Perez-Juez

Se presenta una sencilla infografía para representar una hipótesis teórica sobre la arquitectura de una vivienda de época talayótica. Básicamente se presentan posibilidades de interpretación acerca de las techumbres para este tipo de arquitectura talayótica de ortostatos. En concreto se trata de una vivienda excavada en el yacimiento arqueológico de Torre d´en Galmés (Alaior, Menorca).

http://bu.academia.edu/AmaliaPerezJuez/Papers/1548924/Excavaciones_en_la_Casa_2_del_yacimiento_de_Torre_den_Galmes_Alaior_propuestas_para_el_habitat_talayotico

Reconstrucción virtual del eremitorio y necrópolis de la Arcávica visigoda

by Francisco José López Fraile

realizada para J. Morín y R. Barroso

Situado a las faldas del castro de Santaver, antiguo poblamiento romano de Ercávica, el denominado eremitorio estaría formado por una ermita y una necrópolis rupestres alrededor de las cuales se habría establecido la comunidad religiosa de San Donato el Africano.
Se trata de una sencilla infografía que responde a la interpretación de varios autores, si bien es posible que en vez de mampostería se hubieran reutilizado bloques de sillería de la ciudad romana ya abandonada (se ha querido hacer una vista lo más esquemática y sencila posible, por lo que se optó por la primera opción).

PDF 3D: roman bas-relief: Piedra Escrita (Cenicientos, Madrid)

by Francisco José López Fraile

Se trata de un PDF 3D de una sencilla fotogrametría de este interesante monolito con un bajorrelieve romano. Dedicado a la diosa Diana algunos autores lo fechan hacia el siglo II d.C., como un santurario de caracter rural.

Βαβουρανάκης, Γ. 2007. Αρχιτεκτονικές αποκαταστάσεις προϊστορικών τάφων από το Μόχλο και τα Γουρνιά στην Κρήτη: «οργανική αρχιτεκτονική» και κοινωνικά συμφραζόμενα. Αριάδνη 12, 11-45

by Giorgos Vavouranakis

The Virtual Trip Through The Medieval Torun Possibilities of Using Open Source and Shareware Software in Multimedia Projects and Archaeological Interactive, Virtual Reconstructions of Medieval Architecture

by Lukasz Czyzewski

historical paper presented long time ago (2004) before google earth, sketch-up and street view became popular

Abstract. Torun is one of the most typical example of red-brick gothic architecture of northern Europe. The... more
Abstract. Torun is one of the most typical example of red-brick gothic architecture of northern Europe. The Medieval town- planning structure of Old Town which survive till now is one of most unique in central Europe. Archaeological researches allow us, in combining with historical documents, to reconstruct most of non existing parts of the Town. Its also allows us to reconstruct original style of existing gothic objects.
Proposed “multimedia application” – give the opportunity to present results of archaeological excavations and beauty of the formerly preserved parts of the Old Town to the wide audience in the virtual form. All materials will be multilingual. Project main aim is to prove that its possible to create at least proper “virtual application” only with open source and low-cost shareware.
Solutions for project are discussed widely in the text. Main aspects analyzed are: unity of formats for any system platform, possibility to cooperate with other persons using other platform in practice (like Linux), opportunity to attach low- res version of such multimedia on regular web pages. Project is planned at least for 2 to 3 years.
Keywords: Open Source, Shareware in Archaeology, visualizations, virtual trips, low-cost multimedia

Bisnik Cave. Final project results. The idea of Open Archaeology in interdisciplinary projects.

by Lukasz Czyzewski

Czyżewski, Ł., 2009. Bisnik Cave. Final project results. The idea of Open Archaeology in interdisciplinary projects. W W. Börner & S. Uhlirz, (Eds)., Workshop 13. Archäologie und Komputer 13. Kulturelles Erbe und Neue Technologien. Abstracts. Workshop 13. Archäologie und Komputer 13. Kulturelles Erbe und Neue Technologien. Vienna: Stadt Archäologie Wien, pp. 21, CD–ROM.

PDF video: Fotogrametría de la Quinta Esclusa del Real Canal del Manzanares (Madrid)

by Francisco José López Fraile

Recorrido virtual de la Quinta Esclusa del Real Canal al finalizar la excavación arqueológica de esta obra de ingeniería hidráulica de principios del XIX. El modelo digital se obtuvo gracias a un estudio fotogramétrico, que reproduce fielmente cada ladrillo y cada piedra de la estructura.
Colgado en mejor calidad en el canal arqueoaudema de youtube

PDF video: Infografía de la Quinta Esclusa del Real Canal del Manzanares (Madrid)

by Francisco José López Fraile

Video de una reconstrucción infográfica de la Quinta Esclusa del Real Canal del Manzanares, situada en el término municipal de Madrid. Se muestra de manera sencilla el funcionamiento de una esclusa, con el paso de una barcaza o gabarra a través de la misma. La reconstrucción virtual (construcción, funcionamiento, paisaje, etc.) se ha realizado a partir los datos documentales arqueológicos obtenidos gracias a la excavación arqueológica de la esclusa.
Colgado en mejor calidad en el canal arqueoaudema de youtube

PDF video: Roman Mausoleum. Mausoleos romanos de Valdelobos. Fotogrametría e Infografía

by Francisco José López Fraile

La excavación de dos mausoleos romanos, realizada por Arqveocheck, en la necrópolis de Valdelobos (Montijo, Badajoz) dio origen a la fotogrametría y reconstrucción virtual de los mismos. Se presenta un video del modelo fotogramétrico y de la infografía interpretativa de cómo eran estos mausoleos.
Colgado en mejor calidad en el canal arqueoaudema de youtube

S. Cuy – P. Scheding. Projekt: Image-Grid – Information und Bild. Automatisierte Kontexte, KuBA 1, 2011, 189–190.

by Paul Scheding

http://www.arachne.uni-koeln.de/fotothek/rom

http://www.arachne.uni-koeln.de/fotothek/rom http://www.arachne.uni-koeln.de/fotothek/rom

The laser scanner for archeological survey: “le terme dell’Indirizzo” in Catania

by Cettina Santagati

Giuffrida A.,Liuzzo M., Santagati C., Andreozzi L., The laser scanner for archeological survey: “le terme dell’Indirizzo” in Catania, In International Archives of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial and Information Sciences, Volume 36 (5) ISSN 1682 – 1750. pag 316 - 321.

Proceedings of XX Cipa International Symposium “International cooperation to save the world’s cultural heritage”. Turin 26 september – 2 october 2005.

Il laser scanner per il rilevamento delle opere archeologiche. Le terme dell’Indirizzo a Catania (2007)

by Cettina Santagati

Alessia Giuffrida, Mariangela Liuzzo, Cettina Santagati, Il laser scanner per il rilevamento delle opere archeologiche. Le terme dell’Indirizzo a Catania, in L. Andreozzi (a cura di), Il Rilievo dei Beni Architettonici ed Archeologici. Giornate di studio su Le nuove frontiere del rilevamento digitale Esperienze del passato e prospettive. Atti Convegno 2005, Aracne, Roma, 2007. ISBN 978 - 88 - 548 - 1233 - 8.

sperimentazione della tecnica laser scanner 3D per la conoscenza valorizzazione e fruizione del parco archeologico di Caucana (2009)

by Cettina Santagati

Galizia M., Santagati C., Sperimentazione della tecnica laser scanner 3D per la conoscenza valorizzazione e fruizione del parco archeologico di Caucana, Atti 13° Conferenza Nazionale Asita, Bari, 1-4 Dicembre 2009 ISBN 978-88-903132-2-6. pag 1089-1094

Il modello digitale per il progetto: l'esperienza del parco archeologico di Kaukana a Santa Croce Camerina (RG) _2009

by Cettina Santagati

Restuccia F., Greco V., Galizia M., Santagati C., (2009), Il modello digitale per il progetto: l'esperienza del parco archeologico di Kaukana a Santa Croce Camerina (RG). Atti Sesto congresso UID XXXI Convegno Internazionale delle discilpine della rappresentazione - Disegno e progetto - Lerici 13-15 ottobre 2009 Graphic Sector, Genova ISBN 978-88-905324-0-5 pag. 216-224