Open Area, Open Data: Advances in Reflexive Archaeological Practice. (17th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boyd, Michael J.; Campbell, Rosie; Doonan, Roger C. P.; Douglas, Catherine; Gavalas, Georgios; Gkouma, Myrsini; Halley, Claire; Hartzler, Bruce; Herbst, James A.; Indgjerd, Hallvard R.; Krijnen, Ayla; Legaki, Irini; Margaritis, Evi; Meyer, Nathan; Moutafi, Ioanna; Iliou, Nefeli Pirée; Wylie, David A.; Renfrew, Colin
• Is Part Of: Journal of field archaeology. Volume 46:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 62
• Page End: 80
• Publication Date: 2021-02-17
• Subjects: archaeological informatics -- digital archaeology -- open area excavation -- single context recording -- integrated workflow -- archaeological practices -- photogrammetry -- ceramic analysis -- iDig; Archaeology -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Methodology -- Periodicals; 930.105
• DOI: 10.1080/00934690.2020.1859780
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0093-4690

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article presents a holistic and reflexive process for archaeological fieldwork from inception to publication. The opportunities afforded by maturing digital techniques allowed fundamental rethinking of field and laboratory practice paradigms. A number of normally unquestioned aspects of archaeological praxis were examined with the goal of reorganizing information dynamics. Instead of a series of disparate processes in the field and field laboratory and during study and publication phases, a heterarchically-organized common information framework bonded all aspects of work traditionally only brought together in post-excavation processing, replacing disparate datasets and encompassing ongoing processes such as excavation recording, finds processing, and final analyses. Recording uses a common interface based on the iDig iPad app, and analyses use 3D GIS, based on comprehensive photogrammetry and an underlying all-encompassing data engine. The development and application of the process are described with reference to the excavations, study, and publication of EBA sites on Keros, Cyclades, Greece.