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Archaeological Challenges Digital Possibilities

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Archaeological Challenges Digital Possibilities Fredrik Gunnarsson Lnu Licentiate No. 21, 2018 Tis research concerns the digitalisation of archaeology, with a focus on Swedish contract archaeology. Te aim is to understand how the archaeological discipline relates to the change that digitalisation brings | Archaeological Challenges and human involvement in these processes. Te thesis is a study of Archaeological Challenges Digital Possibilities the digitalisations impact on processes connected to archaeological knowledge production and communication. Te work problematises Digital Possibilities how digital data might be understood within these contexts, but also illustrates where the potential of the digitalisation lies and how Digital Knowledge Development and Communication archaeology can make use of it. Te theoretical approach re-actualises the concept of reflexivity in a digital context, combining it with various in Contract Archaeology communication theories aiming to challenge existing archaeological workflow and connect it more closely to present-day society. Fredrik Gunnarsson In case studies of Swedish contract archaeology several observations are made where it becomes clear that the digitalisation already shows positive effects at a government level, in organisations and projects within the sector. But there are also issues regarding digital infrastructure, knowledge production, archiving, accessibility and transparency. Te biggest challenge is not technical but in attitudes towards digitalisation. Te research concludes that digital communication based on archaeological source material can be something more than mediation of results. With digital interactive storytelling there are ways to create emotional connections with the user, relating to the present and the surrounding society. By interlinking the processes of inter- pretation and communication an archaeological knowledge production might develop into an archaeological knowledge development. Lnu.se ISBN: ---- (PRINT), ---- (PDF ) LINNAEUS UNIVERSITY PRESS Archaeological Challenges, Digital Possibilities Digital Knowledge Development and Communication in Contract Archaeology Licentiate Thesis Fredrik Gunnarsson ARCHAEOLOGICAL CHALLENGES, DIGITAL POSSIBILITIES: DIGITAL KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATION IN CONTRACT ARCHAEOLOGY Licentiate Thesis, Department of Cultural Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, 2018 Lnu Licentiate No. 21, 2018 ISBN: 978-91-88898-06-7 (print), 978-91-88898-07-4 (pdf) Published by: Linnaeus University Press, 351 95 Växjö Printed by: Copycenter, Linnaeus University, Växjö Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................. 7 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................... 9 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 11 Aims ............................................................................................................ 12 Research Questions ................................................................................. 13 Research Scope ............................................................................................ 13 Methods ....................................................................................................... 14 Literature Studies and Online Surveys .................................................... 14 Qualitative and Quantitative Data Collection .......................................... 15 Applied Research..................................................................................... 16 Terminology ................................................................................................ 16 A Theoretical Approach to Digital Archaeology............................................. 19 Reflexivity ................................................................................................... 20 Hermeneutic Reflexivity ............................................................................. 21 The Hermeneutic Spiral ........................................................................... 22 Reflexive Archaeology in Practice at Çatalhöyük ....................................... 24 Multivocality ........................................................................................... 25 Digital Reflexivity ....................................................................................... 26 Knowledge Production and Communication ........................................... 29 The Digitalisation of Archaeology .................................................................. 31 Calculated Truths 1930–1970s .................................................................... 31 Digital Archaeology 1980–1990s ................................................................ 33 Not a Turn, a Leap 2000–2010s .................................................................. 34 The World is 3D – Virtual Realities ........................................................ 35 Digital Workflows ................................................................................... 36 Concluding Thoughts .................................................................................. 42 The Digitalisation of Contract Archaeology ................................................... 45 Contract Archaeology in the Global West ................................................... 45 Contract Archaeology in Sweden ................................................................ 46 Digitalisation of Swedish Contract Archaeology ........................................ 47 Minor Case Study 1: DAP & Digisam .................................................... 48 Minor Case Study 2: New Lödöse – a Contract Archaeology Project .... 57 Minor Case Study 3: A Digital Archaeologist ......................................... 60 Concluding Thoughts .................................................................................. 62 E-archive ................................................................................................. 63 1 3D data .................................................................................................... 64 Challenges ............................................................................................... 65 Limitations to Change ............................................................................. 65 Sandby borg – a Case Study of the Digital and Virtual .................................. 67 Background to the Archaeological Site ....................................................... 67 House of the Dead ................................................................................... 69 A Difficult Heritage ................................................................................ 70 The Digital Sandby borg ............................................................................. 70 IDA – Instant field Documentation system and Availability .................. 72 Digital Communication ........................................................................... 72 Sandby borg– A Virtual Connection ........................................................... 78 Archaeological Source Material .............................................................. 79 Demo Event at Kalmar County Museum ................................................ 80 A Virtual Connection .............................................................................. 85 Concluding Thoughts .................................................................................. 87 Digital Communication ................................................................................... 89 In the Trench ............................................................................................... 90 Reflexivity at the Trowels Edge .............................................................. 91 In Archaeology ............................................................................................ 93 To Share or Not to Share ......................................................................... 93 Digital Democracy? ................................................................................. 97 In Society .................................................................................................... 99 The Public ............................................................................................. 100 Interactive Narratives ............................................................................ 102 Virtual Presence .................................................................................... 105 Concluding Thoughts ................................................................................ 106 Rethink Publication ............................................................................... 108 Alive .............................................................................................................. 111 Life of Data ............................................................................................... 112 Context and Transparency ..................................................................... 114 Living Data ............................................................................................ 116 Interpretation + Communication = Knowledge Development .................. 117 Interpretation ......................................................................................... 118 Communication ....................................................................................
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