In archaeology, where the ability to map items and other data is critical, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be extremely useful. Researchers can enter data as they collect it, store it in an efficient and accessible manner, and analyze it using a system. They amass a library of data that can be used for anything from determining who might have lived at a site to determining the likely distribution path of items suspended in sediment. Some software programs are designed specifically for archaeology, while others can be used in a variety of ways.
The location of items is of particular interest to researchers in this field. Before beginning work on a site, archaeologists historically photographed and mapped the area extensively, and excavated with care to record the precise location of each artifact and other discovery; tree stumps, for example, could be important in analysis. This necessitated meticulous attention to detail with far-reaching implications. In archaeology, using GIS can help speed up the process of documenting sites and create a more accessible database.
GIS can be used to map topography, geology, and other features such as plants and trees during site surveys. Weather patterns, existing structures, and points of interest can all be superimposed on the site. People can use GIS in archaeology to precisely tag the location of everything they find as they begin excavating, as well as noting soil transitions and other features. This creates a living record of the site, which will be useful in future data analysis.
The task of analyzing data from archaeological sites can be daunting. GIS users in archaeology can take advantage of some automated processing features, such as highlighting similar artifacts to learn more about their distribution or looking for traces of rivers or fields that could explain a site’s layout. They can also run simulations for things like figuring out why buildings break down or mapping changes in riverbeds and other major features.
Archaeology’s use of GIS has a wide range of applications, which explains why archaeologists were among the first to embrace such systems. This, among other tools, can help sites gain perspective and make data processing easier, allowing for complex logical leaps and hypotheses. Someone inspecting a site, for example, might notice similar fragments that appear to come from a large bowl or pot and use GIS to create a predictive map showing where to look for the rest of the object. Another archaeologist using GIS might use site analysis to find temples and key structures, or to speculate on the function of a mysterious structure.