Spatial Technology and Archaeology - The Archaeological Applications of GIS (Hardcover)

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and related spatial technologies have a new and powerful role to play in archaeological interpretation.
Beginning with a conceptual approach to the representation of space adopted by GIS; the book examines spatial databases; the acquisition and compilation of data; the analytical compilation of data; the analytical functionality of GIS and the creation and utilisation of critical foundation data layers such as the Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
The ways in which GIS can most usefully facilitate archaeological analysis and interpretation are then explored particularly as a tool for the management of archaeological resources. Formal analysis of archaeological material, and the use of trend surface, contouring and interpolation procedures are considered. Predictive modelling analysis of visibility and intervisibility are explained. Finally there is a discussion of leading-edge issues, including three-dimensional GIS, object-oriented GIS, the relationship between GIS and 'Virtual Reality' technologies, and the integration of GIS with distributed systems and the Internet.
The approach is light, and technical detail is kept to a minimum, recognising that most readers are simply interested in using GIS effectively. The text is carefully illustrated with worked case-studies using archaeological data. The book provides a single reference source for archaeologists- students, professionals and academics in archaeology as well as those in anthropology and related disciplines.