Róbert FENCÍK, Javier URBINA VELASCO

Using spatial data in archeological survey

Fencík, R., Urbina Velasco, J.: Using spatial data in archeological survey. Kartografické listy, 2006, 14, 5 figs., 1 tab., 4 refs.

Abstract: The field of archeology still relies on the traditional plans and section drawings as its primary form of graphic documentation, the standard “templates” that are used to represent the ancient past to the general public. Archeologists use many different methods (land surveying, remote sensing/satellite imaging, digital scanning, global positioning system, photogrammetric mapping and multimedia imaging) for capturing spatial data, which they use for a creation of an archeological information system. Geographical information systems (GIS) provide archeologists, particularly in landscape archeology, a powerful set of tools for management, analysis and research of cultural resources. The paper describes possibilities of using spatial data for different types of analyses, which are used for exploration potential archeological sites (settlements) and get information about the social and political complexity of the ancient people, size of domains and so on.

Keywords: archeological site, spatial data, georeferencing, digital elevation model, spatial analyses