| CODE | ARC5016 | ||||||
| TITLE | GIS for Archaeologists | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 10 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Classics and Archaeology | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Archaeological data feature inherent spatial components that can be meaningfully processed and interpreted with the use of appropriate theoretical and analytical geospatial approaches and tools. The study-unit aims at introducing students to the use of Geographic Information System as a tool that can be used at different levels of complexity and for different purposes, encompassing (but not limited to) data capture, storing, and querying, producing spatial visualizations as a first step toward data interpretation, analysing the spatial organization of archaeological entities in order to explore and understand their spatial relationship(s), modelling spatial phenomena, understanding process(es) of interaction between human agents and the surrounding landscape, modelling land use and landscape perception. The spatial organization of archaeological entities in order to explore and understand their spatial relationship(s), modelling spatial phenomena, understanding process(es) of interaction between human agents and the surrounding landscape, modelling land use and landscape perception. In order to achieve the above goals, the study-unit will introduce students to both the theoretical underpinnings and the practical aspects of the use of GIS to handle archaeological data, to be able to frame archaeological questions in spatial terms, and to be able to address specific archaeology-oriented and theory-driven research question selecting the most appropriate analytical strategies and tools. Study-unit Aims: - To familiarise students with the relevance of spatial information in the context of archaeological data interpretation; - To familiarise students with the different levels at which GIS can be used for archaeological purposes, ranging from spatial data handling, to data visualization, to spatial data analysis and interpretation; - To enable students to understand and select the appropriate methods of visualization and analysis of archaeological spatial data; - To enable students to think "spatially” and to be able to elicit and address archaeological research questions from a spatial perspective; - To make students aware of the potential, as well as of the limitations, of the use of spatial (and, generally speaking, quantitative) approaches to spatial archaeological data. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Recognise the difference between different types of GIS data and choose the more appropriate type according to the task at hand; - Capture, handle, organize, and query spatial data in GIS; - Produce simple but effective visualizations; - Produce more advanced visualization to be used as a first step toward data interpretation; - Think "spatially” in order to elicit sound spatial research questions; - Choose the more appropriate procedures to address theory-driven archaeological research questions. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Build a geo-database; - Capture, store, manipulate, query spatial data; - Produce different types of visualizations of archaeological data; - Understand how visualizations can be improved in order to highlight specific information relevant to the task at hand; - Handle different types of GIS data; - Perform different types of analysis to address specific research questions; - Understand and select the more appropriate GIS and spatial analysis procedures in order to make sense of spatial data. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts Conolly, J., & Lake, M. (2006). Geographic Information Systems in Archaeology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press O’Sullivan, D., & Unwin, D. J. (2010). Geographic Information Analysis (2nd ed.). Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc Zhu, X. (2016). GIS for Environmental Applications: A practical approach. New York: Routledge Supplementary readings Rogerson, P. A. (2001). Statistical Methods for Geography. London-Thousand Oaks-New Delhi: SAGE Wheatley, D. W., & Gillings, M. (2002). Spatial Technology and Archaeology. The Archaeological Applications of GIS. London-New York: Taylor & Francis |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practicum | ||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Gianmarco Alberti |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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