Digital Field Instrumentation for Archaeological Excavation and Mapping

在国家科学基金会的支持下，Mark Aldenderfer博士将开发一种多用途系统，使考古学家能够以电子方式记录现场的各种数据类型，然后在不依赖传统纸笔技术的情况下对其进行操作、分析、存储、共享和发布。该系统的基本部件包括用于测绘和测量的徕卡TCR 1107全站仪、用于地图集成的软件、一台装有penMap软件的富士通2300计算机、尼康Coolpix 950数码相机、野外站膝上型计算机以及打印机和相关外围设备。尽管许多考古学家目前使用了信息技术(IT)工具，但对于考古研究至关重要的基本野外数据收集仍然牢牢地停留在前数字化、基于纸张的时代。这是有充分理由的--纸质记录保存经受住了时间的考验，是可靠的，成本相对较低，而且易于使用。它还可以承受考古学家经常工作的极端环境。然而，局限性也越来越明显，这涉及到数据整合、传播、出版和存档方面的困难。IT工具有可能使这些考古实践发生革命性的变化。阿尔登德费尔博士将构建一个系统，将不同类型的数据--田野表格、照片、考古部分以及文物分析产生的定量和定性信息--结合在一起，以便作为一个分析整体使用。他将尝试制定数据记录标准，以及一种易于复制、可广泛使用的系统，并将通过万维网提供信息。他目前在秘鲁和西藏进行研究，通过在两个非常不同的考古学背景下的应用，应该有可能开发出一个通用的系统。这一奖项将达到几个目标。它将为Aldenderfer博士提供记录和分析仪器，这将促进他目前由NSF资助的研究。它还将帮助他开发一种更具普遍价值和易于广泛应用的考古系统。

With support from the National Science Foundation, Dr. Mark Aldenderfer will develop a multiuse system which will allow archaeologists to electronically record a variety of data types in the field and then manipulate, analyze, store, share and publish them without reliance on traditional pen and paper technology. The essential parts of the system consist of a Leica TCR 1107 total station for mapping and survey, software for mapping integration, a Fujitsu 2300 computer with penMap software, Nikon CoolPix 950 digital cameras, field station laptop computers as well as printers and related peripherals. Although many archaeologists currently employ information technology (IT) tools, basic field data collection which is essential to archaeological research, remains firmly in the pre-digital, paper based era. There is good reason for this - paper recordkeeping has withstood the test of time, is reliable, costs relatively little and is easy to use. It can also withstand the environmental extremes in which archaeologists often work. However the limitations are also increasingly clear and these involve difficulties in data integration, dissemination, publishing and archiving. IT tools have the potential to revolutionize these archaeological practices. Dr. Aldenderfer will construct a system which takes disparate types of data - field forms, photographs, archaeological sections and quantitative and qualitative information which results from artifact analysis - and combine them so that they can be used as an analytic whole. He will attempt to develop standards for data recording as well as an easily replicable system amenable to widespread use and will make the information available via the worldwide web. He currently conducts research in Peru and Tibet, and through application in two very different archaeological contexts it should be possible to develop a versatile system. This award will meet several goals. It will provide Dr. Aldenderfer with recording and analysis instrumentation which will facilitate his currently funded NSF supported research. It will also help him to develop a system of more general value and amenable to widespread archaeological use.