Much like the rest of the sciences, archaeology has been advancing its processes through the use of technology. Because archaeology in general is focused on detail and human input, technology has been used to streamline techniques, as well as display results with impeccable clarity.
On this website, I hope to outline and demonstrate in clear terms the ways in which digitization and technology have impacted the field of archaeology by outlining some of the major advancements achieved over the last few years.
GPS/Mapping
Global positioning systems and mapping systems have produced unbelievably more accurate and readable maps, both on large scales and small. Through GPS, archaeologists are able to pinpoint locations and label them accordingly. This can be extremely accurate with certain GPS technology, including differential GPS technology, that can evaluate and gather information about surface conditions and 3 dimensional perspectives that are or have been hidden, even from aerial views. More commonly used are handheld devices. The ability of archaeologists to get a general sense of their location while in the field can be instrumental in evaluating placement of certain sites. With an accurate assessment of site location, archaeologists are more able to relate certain various sites and hope they exist in relation to each other. This has been put together and used in tools such as GIS.
GIS
GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, are used to give archaeologists and others the ability to "view, understand, question, interpret, and visualize data in many ways that reveal relationships, patterns, and trends in the form of maps, globes, reports, and charts." (gis.com) The presentation that GIS allows can mesh together multiple aspects of the terrain or site area that may be indiscernible through normal evaluation. GIS mapping can be useful in evaluating and predicting change over time. This can be instrumental in figuring out which sites are in environmental or industrial danger, where certain sites may have been in the past, and where to look for sites in the future. Clearly stated and easy to understand displays are a major step forward in the technological process of digital archaeology. An informative and explanatory video of GIS can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL1SKqtWB9Q
Lidar
Lidar, or Laser Detection and Ranging, is used to effectively map and record contours in a surrounding area. This can be used to gain a 3 dimensional model of a site, or entire region. Lidar uses laser pulses and records objects that reflect the laser. It is accurate down to the size of the wavelength of the laser. In archaeology, Lidar can be used to decipher the topography of a region that was previously covered by tree canopy. Lidar can also allow for connections between regions that could not be seen without this technology. Lidar can also be used to create DEMs, or Digital Elevation Models, to quickly and inexpensively create high resolution data sets.
DATING 
Advancements in other sciences, such as chemistry, have lead to the advancement of dating abilities that are capable by archaeologists today. Through radio-carbon dating, a system that evaluates the trace amounts of carbon in a specimen, archaeologists and other scientists can accurately date specimens, using time sensitive half life model. As time passes, the radioisotope Carbon 14, is measured in comparison to what is expected in regular atmospheric scenarios. It is important to note that radiocarbon dating is only useful for organic material. With the use of radiocarbon dating, archaeologists can match together particular artifacts from sites, and paint a much clearer picture of the original time period in which the specimens existed organically. Radiocarbon dating a
lso allows for comparisons and can provide some anomalies as to how a particular specimen came to be where it was found. There are various tools available once the radiocarbon dates have been specified in order to calibrate the relation to, and significance of the specimens. One of them can be found here: http://c14.arch.ox.ac.uk/embed.php?x.ac.uk/embed.php?ile=oxcal.html
Harris Matrix
Another key tool used by archaeologists in order to place things in a relational order is the Harris Matrix. This is a tool used view and understand the stratigraphic position, or time sequence, of various levels of an excavation or specimens within the site. Generally, archaeologists have been able to clearly identify various levels within an excavation. Finding the sequence the layers and objects found within the site were deposited can obviously be beneficial in understanding the past uses and history of a site. While creating a matrix in order to understand the stratification of a site is nothing new, computer programs can accurately display results in a clean organized fashion. This obviously is helpful in the analysis and use of the information gathered from the dating of certain sites.
3-D Modelling
Of all of the new technology available and used by modern archaeologists, 3 dimensional modelling is both the most appealing tool used. Through laser scanning and site modelling, digital archaeologists have been able to put together simulated models of archaeological sites.
With 3-D modelling, archaeologists can re-create the actual sites that have been excavated, both in its current condition, and using some creative justice, the way a site looked in the past. These can be explored through a first person perspective and offer the user an incredible glimpse into a physical site, often times that existed thousands of years ago, from their computer. As advancements in technology continue, the clarity and detail of these 3 dimensional models is astounding. Minute details such as sunlight positioning throughout the day or year can be evaluated using these models. This can only add to the understanding of certain sites, and even explain some difficult findings that may be unclear without a full scale model to help visualize. A great example of 3 dimensional modelling can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=W4eF1tw8_nU&feature=related, where the viewer is given a guided tour of an ancient Roman house.
Databases
The amount of various artifacts and specimens collected at archaeological sites can be quite overwhelming. With that being said, comparing artifacts from different sites was even more tedious and difficult before the use of databases in the storage and organization of archaeological remains. DAACS, Digital Archaeological Archive of Comparative Slavery, has been heralded as one of the most widely accepted forms of archaeological databases. Their sites accurately store and sort artifacts
found in slavery sites on the East Coast of America and the Caribbean. With a lot of resources, personnel and monetary, it has still be a years long process loading, sorting, and labeling the artifacts found at only a handful of sites. This may seem intimidating to many, but the movement is towards digital storage of data. The ability to compare and identify particular artifacts is extremely valuable to archaeologists as it gives researches the ability to make connections between various artifacts and therefore draw conclusions based on the location and type of artifact found. With updated databases, this process can be accurate and immediate, only furthering the accuracy and correlation of various sites and artifacts.
The Future
With the advancement of each aspect of digital archaeology, scientists and researches will have the ability to acheive tasks much more quickly and accurately than ever before. The move to an interactive approach to archeological study is becoming the norm. Displaying the information gained through digital and manual techniques has a new focus on the end user. Archaeology is by nature destructive in that one must "dig up" and evaluate each piece or artifact found. The digital movement can reduce the amount of disruption to the natural and historical environments that were typical in pre-digital archaeological study. Fairly soon, it will be possible for casual observers to become fully immersed within an archaeological or historical site without leaving home. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvTfg2Vxx88
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