Digital Archaeology 1500-SZD-AC
Digital archaeology is one of the newest disciplines in archaeology. Its specificity is the use of
information technology and digital media in the study of human activities in the past. It concerns not
only the ways of documenting archaeological research, but also managing, creating and testing research
hypothesis, analyzing, interpreting and making public the digital data which are produced during the
archaeologist's work.
The aim of the course is to present the methodology and methods used in digital archaeology. During
the course the participant will become familiar with data management and will learn about basic tools
and data sources that can be used in their work.
The classes will take the form of a theoretical introduction and practical exercises. The theoretical part
will discuss elements of archaeological methodology and theoretical aspects and concepts related todigital archaeology. In turn, using real archaeological data, the practical part will show how digital
archaeology is used during archaeological research, when making or verifying research hypotheses.
The course will cover digital archaeology related to digital data management in the preparation of a
dissertation; Cultural Heritage Management, with elements of managing data collected during
excavation in the context of using GIS and photogrammetry; publishing research results, especially on
the internet; landscape archaeology - theory in the context of digital archaeology, satellite imagery,
visibility analysis and least cost path analysis; basics of statistical-spatial analysis and data mining;
introduction to agent-based modelling; introduction to network analysis in archaeology.
Type of course
Learning outcomes
The student has in-depth knowledge of the existing paradigms - world achievements, including
theoretical foundations and general and selected specific issues of digital archaeology (P8S_WG.1). The
student knows and understands the main developmental trends of digital archaeology (P8S_WG.2) and
knows the methodology of scientific research (P8S_WG.3). Student understands the fundamental
dilemmas of modern civilization in the aspect of application of digital archaeology (P8S_WK.1)
Student is able to use knowledge from different fields of science to creatively identify, formulate and
innovatively solve complex problems or carrying out tasks of research character. In particular, he/she is
able to independently define the aim and subject of scientific research, formulate a research hypothesis,
develop research methods, techniques and tools and apply them creatively, as well as make conclusions
on the basis of research results (P8S_UW.1). Can communicate on topics related to digital archaeology
to a degree that enables active participation in the international scientific community (P8S_UK.1). Can
participate in scientific discourse (P8S_UK.4).
The student is ready to recognize the importance of knowledge in solving cognitive and practical
problems (P8S_KK.3), and is also ready to sustain and develop the ethos of research and creative circles,
including, conducting scientific activity in an independent manner, and respecting the principle of public
ownership of the results of scientific activity, taking into account the principles of protection of
intellectual property (P8S_KR.1)
Assessment criteria
Assessment criteria, including a description of the requirements for participation in classes, including
the number of excused absences and the rules for passing the classes and the course (including
corrective assessment)
Using the tools and theory of digital archaeology learned during the course, participants will be required
to prepare a final assessment presentation based on their own research data or using archaeological
data available in scientific journals.
The final assessment will consist of making and recording the presentation, making up for missed
exercises, and preparing a short review of an article related to digital archaeology.Two excused absences are allowed. Subsequent absences can be credited by doing exercises related to
the topic of the class on which the student was absent.
Bibliography
Banaszek Ł., 2015: Airborne Laser Scanning and visibility analyses. Some remarks on the use of ALS in
archaeological interpretation, [in:] A.G. Posluschny (ed.), Sensing the Past. Contributions from the
ArcLand Conference on Remote Sensing for Archaeology. Bonn: 40-46
Brughmans T., 2013: Thinking through networks: a review of formal network methods in archaeology,
Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 20 (4): 623-662
Buławka N., Chyla J., 2020: Mobile GIS: Current Possibilities, Future Needs, [in:] Digital Archaeologies,
Material Worlds (Past and Present). Proceedings of the 45rd Annual Conference on Computer
Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology, J.B. Glover, J. Moss, D. Rissolo (eds.), Tübingen:
99-113
Chapman H., Landscape Archaeology and GIS, Tempus Publishing Ltd, 2006
Chyla J.M., 2018: How can remote sensing help in detecting the threats to archaeological sites in upper
Egypt? Geoscineces 7(4): 97
Daly P., Evans T. L. (eds.), Digital Archaeology: Bridging Method and Theory, Routledge, 2006
David B., Thomas J. (eds.), Handbook of Landscape Archaeology, Left Coast Press Inc, 2010
Gillings M., Hacıgüzeller P., Lock G. (eds.), Archaeological Spatial Analysis: A Methodological Guide,
Routledge, 2020
Niedziółka K., 2018: Próba oceny przydatności danych AZP do badao osadniczych. Przykład Pomorza
Wschodniego na przełomie epok Brązu i Żelaza, Śląskie Sprawozdania Archeologiczne, t. 60/1: 113-138
Nowakowski J., Prinke A., Rączkowski W. (eds.), Biskupin… i co dalej? Poznao, 2005
Rączkowski W., Archeologia lotnicza – metoda wobec teorii, Poznao, 2002
Romanowska I., Wren C.D., Crabtree S.A., Agent-Base Modelling for Archaeology: Simulating the
Complexity of Societies, Santa Fe, 2021
Wiseman J., El-Baz F. (eds.) Remote sensing in Archaeology, New York, 2007
Wroniecki P., 2020: Biskupin… i co z tego? Studia Lednickie t. XIX (2020): 59-80
Tilley C., Phenomenology of landscape: Places, Paths and Monuments, Oxford, 1997
Verhagen P., Nuninger L., Groenhuijzen M.R., 2019: Modelling of Pathways and Movement Networks in
Archaeology: An Overview of Current Approaches, [in:] P. Verhagen, P., J. Joyce, , M. Groenhuijzen (eds.)
Finding the Limits of the Limes. Computational Social Sciences, Cham: 217-249
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: