Open Area, Open Data: Advances in Reflexive Archaeological Practice

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 reorganising information dynamics. Instead of a series of disparate processes in the field and field laboratory and during study and publication phases, a heterarchically-organised 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 the EBA site of Keros, Cyclades, Greece.Stavros Niarchos Foundation A.G. Leventis Foundation Institute for Aegean Prehistory Research and Innovation Foundation(EXCELLENCE/1216/0463) Packard Humanities Institute The Cyprus Institute Gerda Henkel Foundation AIGEAS-AMKE British Academy McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research British School at Athens National Geographic Society Society of Antiquaries of London Cosmote Blue Star Ferries EZ-do