“ New Archaeology ” and its emphasis on quantitative analysis and

model building

Presented byMaile Fabienne

Summary

What archaeologists can expect from using a virtual environment such as the “ Cave ” for archaeological research ?

Three-dimensional computer visualization of historic buildings My projet using computer applications and quantative methods in

Archaeology Conclusion and prospects References

“ New Archaeology ” and its emphasis on quantitative analysis and

model building

– Presentation

Computer Archaeology has developed chiefly in Europe and the US (Wilcock 1992). Nevertheless, few archaeologists are familiar with new technologies, even as they spread in the context of their archaeological applications. Work and research within the sphere of the application of computers to archaeological endeavors are already engaged in a fundamental questioning of the principles and concepts which have long underpinned traditional archaeological enquiry and interpretation. For instance, GIS in archaeological research/ Allen, Green and Zubrow 1990) and quantitatives methods (Djindjian 1989). These changes constitute a major social upheaval in our field.

.What archaeologists can expect from using a virtual environment such as the “ Cave ” for archaeological research ?

The ARCHAVE system developped at Brown University (Vote, 2001) is a relevant application which provides archaeologists new methods of analysis. This system offers different overviews from a data set in the manner of formulate hypotheses, such as the following :

- an adequate interface and the contextual information necessary for analysis.

- preservation and visualization of the data collected in a 3D environment.

. - a potential for organizing and accesing the amounts of data usually unpublished

Three-dimensional computer visualization of historic buildings

Three-dimentional computerized models can be created according to different methods : solid and surface modellers.

– Solids modellers

In the case of the use of solid modeller software, there are two main ways of representing solids :

by constructive solid geometry (CSG). or by boundary representation (B rep).

Three-dimensional computer visualization of historic buildings

– Surface modellers

This second type of software provides a wire-frame model, resulting from information stored both in graphical database (the x, y and z co-ordinates of vertices of each object), and about the surfaces, or faces of the object as well as its vertices.

One lists the vertices with their co-ordinates ; the other lists the faces of the object with the vertices which are joined together to make up each face.

My projet using computer applications and quantative methods in Archaeology

I came to Brown University this year in order to become familiar with new technologies and to collaborate with the Engineering Department team that has worked since 1997 on the two following projects:

- ARCHAVE-ARCHAeology in Virtual Environments

- SHARP-Shape & Architectural Reconstruction of the Petra site

Both projects use advanced technologies and softwares such as, 3D Studio Viz for the reconstitution modelling.

http://www.lems.brown.edu~vote

http://www.lems.brown.edu~leymarie

http://www.cs.brown.edu/research/graphics/research/sciviz/archaeology/archaeology.html

http://www.lems.brown.edu/vision/extra/SHAPE/

http://www.cs.brown.edu/research/graphics/research/cave/home.html

Conclusion and prospects

Prospects

Enable the rapid development of archaeological publications

To fill the need for a common archaeological format suitable for all researchers and institutions.

Transform the way archaeological research is driven using approaches to spatial analysis (GIS), computer applications and quantitative methods, and virtual reality.

Conclusion and prospects

Conclusion

The use of computers by researchers in archaeology is more extensive than in the past. This is reason enough to incorporate systematic data processing and visualization systems whereby all the data recovered during excavations will enlarge and facilitate the field of archaeological research.

My aim today was to outline several unsolved archaeological problems and to suggest various ways to solve them. You are aware that an archaeological upheaval is coming, specifically concerning the way archaeology can be taught in the near future - combining computer information processing.

References

Allen, K. M.S., S. W. Green and E. B.W. Zubrow,

1990 Interpreting space : GIS and archaeology, London.

Djindjian, F.,

1989 “ Fifteen years of contributions of the French School of Data Analysis to Quantitative Archaeology ”, in Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology 1989, Rahtz, S. & J. Richards(eds), 193-204. Oxford : British Archaeological Reports.

Doran, J.,

1990 “ Systems theory, computer simulations and archaeology ”, World archaeology, vol.1, n°3 (Fev.) : 289-298.

Vote, L. E., 2001 A New Methodology for Archaeological Analysis : Using Visualization and Inetraction to Explore Spatial Links in

Excavation Data. (Dissertation), Brown University, Providence, RI.

Wilcock, J., 1992 “ On the importance of high-level communication formats in world archaeology ”, in Archaeology and the Information

Age : a global perspective / Paul Reilly and Sebastian Rahtz (eds), chapter 8. London : Routledge. - One World archaeology series 1 :69-77.

GAINES, Sylvia,

1984 “ The impact of computerized systems on American Archaeology : an overview of the past decade ”, Information Systems in Archaeology / Martlew, Roger : 63-77.

Huggett, J., Ryan, N., Campbell, E., Orton, C., Shennan S.,

1995 Computers applications and quantitative methods in archaeology. Oxford : Tempus Reparatum BAR 600

Reilly, P., Rahtz, S.,

1992 Archaeology and the Information Age – A global perspective / ed. P. Reilly, S. Rahtz. London and New York.

References

Vote, L. E.,

2001 A New Methodology for Archaeological Analysis : Using Visualization and Inetraction to Explore Spatial

Links in Excavation Data. (Dissertation), Brown University, Providence, RI.

Wilcock, J.,

1992 “ On the importance of high-level communication formats in world archaeology ”, in Archaeology and the

Information Age : a global perspective / Paul Reilly and Sebastian Rahtz (eds), chapter 8. London : Routledge. - One World archaeology series 1 :69-77.

References

Contact

MAILE Fabienne — Archaeologist / DEA

Paris I - University / Pantheon-Sorbonne

Brown UniversityDivision of Engineering, Box D/

ShapeLab - LemsShapeLab - Lems

Providence, RI 02912, USAProvidence, RI 02912, USA (USA) maile@lems.brown.edu(USA) maile@lems.brown.edu

Tel (Fax): +1.401.863.2760Tel (Fax): +1.401.863.2760 (France) fabm20@hotmail.com(France) fabm20@hotmail.com