Archaeological Computing, Second Edition

Archaeological Computing is intended to provide an introduction to the use of digital technologies for archaeologists. The first two chapters of the book include discussions of a variety of general computing issues, with special emphases on some matters of more importance to scholars, especially archaeologists, than typical computer users. The three following chapters are focused on the three critical data-recording technologies for archaeological projects -- database management, GIS, and CAD -- in that sequence. The authors explore the capabilities of those three software types, and much of the discussion centers on organizing data effectively so that the capabilities of the software -- and the utility of the software for archaeologists -- can be maximized. In the sixth chapter other digital technologies; including digital images, audio, and various kinds of moving images; are discussed in terms of the problems raised by their being digital as opposed to film- or paper-based. The new seventh chapter contains a lengthy but at times frustratingly general and theoretcial discussion of the processes required to digitize data already gathered but not in digital form. The generalities and theoretical approach are required by the diversity of projects for which digitizing paper-based data may be desirable. A lengthy discussion of digital data protection and preservation follows in the eighth chapter. The ninth and final chapter provides a wrap-up.