Integrating excavation recording, data management and object representation through GIS

in the past five years has developed a digital recording methodology through 2D photogrammetry that has resulted in the: • systematic collection of excavation unit and artefact co-ordinates • fast and detailed production of digital excavation plans and sections • increase in the photographic documentation of the excavation process However, these recording strategies have so far been distinguished from the rest of the excavation documentation, which has largely remained on paper. Despite previous attempts in computer applications development, the difficulty in handling the vast amount of excavation data in both analogue and digital form and the need for optimizing their study, have made necessary the use of an information system for the organization, management, representation and analysis of all kinds of archaeological evidence. The Paliambela Excavation Information System is currently under development within the frame of two complementary PhD projects. The research is centered on the: • critical appraisal of the excavation methodology employed • integration of the recording techniques used within the new system’s operational workflow • effective description of excavation evidence in a data model • realistic representation of excavation features in digital 3D space • incorporation of the temporal properties of archaeological information It is argued that in order to achieve a true integration of excavation data recording, management and representation, GIS technology should be in the core of such attempt. Therefore, the methodology employed is focused on the development of data models supported by GIS and the modification of existing GIS software in order to meet the archaeological research requirements