Joshua S. CampbellUniversity of Kansas

March 5, 2008

KSU Archaeological Field Methods: Survey

Archaeological Applications of Geographic Information

Systems (GIS)

What is a GIS?

Geographic Information System"automated systems for the capture,

storage, retrieval, analysis, and display of spatial data." (Clarke, 1995, p. 13)

Collection of hardware, software, and people

Where did GIS come from?

GIS is built upon knowledge from geography, cartography, computer science and mathematics

Geographic Information Science is a new interdisciplinary field built out of the use and theory of GIS

Defining GIS

Geography is the organizing principle!

All GIS definitions recognize that spatial data are unique because they are linked to maps

A GIS at least consists of a database, map information, and a computer-based link between them

GIS as an information system

"An information system that is designed to work with data referenced by spatial or geographic coordinates. In other words, a GIS is both a database system with specific capabilities for spatially-referenced data, as well as a set of operations for working with the data" (Star and Estes, 1990, p. 2).

Spatial and non-spatial dataPart Number Quantity Description1034161 5 Wheel spoke1051671 1 Ball bearing1047623 6 Wheel rim1021413 2 Tire1011210 3 Handlebars

Crimes during 2003Date Location Type22-Jan 123 James St. Robbery24-Jan 22 Smith St. Burglary10-Feb 9 Elm St. #4A Assault13-Feb 12 Fifth Avenue Breaking and Entering14-Feb 17 Del Playa Drunk and Disorderly

Map Overlay

What do archaeologists study?

Archaeologists are interested in culture and human behavior through time and space

Emphasis on material culture remainsAll artifacts are located somewhereAll artifacts can be described using attributes

How can GIS help?

Integrate vector data (point plotted artifacts, features, excavation units, sites) with rasterdata (feature and level photographs, geophysical data, remote-sensing images, interpolated artifact density surfaces).

Scalable – works at the site level, local level, regional, and global levels.

Capture / Data Acquisition

Begins the geospatial workflow

Obtain data in a digital format

Digital acquisition will facilitate analysis and visualization components

Survey and Excavation

Cataloging and MappingIntegration of GPS derived infoDigital record keeping

Visualize spatial relationships among artifacts or other geophysical measurementsStatistical Analysis (cluster analysis, …)Magnetic Susceptibility, Sediment Texture,

Organic Content, …

Survey and Excavation

ExamplesKirwin Reservoir Survey

Fort Hood Survey

Scott Site

Archival

Construction of a digital database containing spatial data of all site locations with associated attribute data

Required for Regional-level analysis

KSHS site database and DASC data viewer

Analysis

Predictive Modeling

Surface Generation

Least-Cost Paths

Viewshed Analysis

Specific Applications

Fort Hood, Texas2D and 3D archaeological model integrationPenetrometer survey

Kirwin Reservoir, KansasGeoarchaeological survey and hydrological

predictions

Specific Applications

Stranger Creek / Scott SiteMagnetic susceptibility metrics

Trail Rut mappingPenetrometer survey

SW Kansas Predictive Model

Display / Visualization

70% of the human brain is associated with vision

GIS data can produce graphical outputs which greatly enhance the understanding of complex datasets

Display / Visualization

Predictive Model SurfacesMorton County

Hydrological PredictionsKirwin Reservoir

Analytical SurfacesScott Site, Trail Ruts, and Ft. Hood survey

Future Directions

Google Earth / SketchupRapidly becoming the primary vehicle for the

display of spatial data

Integration with Open Source software to provide analytical functionality

Also does not contain the high price tag!

Resources

Computing, GIS and Archaeology in the UKhttp://www.archaeogeek.com/blog/

GIS for Archaeology and CRMhttp://www.gisarch.com

Digging Digitallyhttp://www.alexandriaarchive.org/blog/

Spatial Technology and ArchaeologyWheatley and Gillings, 2002

Kansas Geospatial Commons (DASC)www.kansasgis.org

Joshua S. Campbell – jsc1@ku.edu