Digital Archaeology

elective courses

The aim of the course is to present methodology and methods used in digital archaeology. During the

course the participant will get acquainted with data management and will learn about basic tools and

data sources used in digital archaeology, which can be used in their work.

The class will take the form of a theoretical introduction and practical exercises. Using real

archaeological data, the practical part will demonstrate different aspects of digital archaeology used

during archaeological research, from the archaeological site level, to the regional level (inter and intralevel).

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.

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

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, 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.