Spatial Technology and Archaeology: The Archaeological Applications of GIS - Hardcover

Wheatley, David; Gillings, Mark

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0415246393 ISBN 13: 9780415246392

Publisher: CRC Press, 2002

Synopsis

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, this book examines spatial databases; the acquisition and compilation of data; the analytical compilation of data; the analytical functionality of GIS; and the creation and utilization 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 along with predictive modeling analysis of visibility and intervisibility. 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, recognizing that most readers are simply interested in using GIS effectively. The text is carefully illustrated with worked case-studies using archaeological data. Spatial Technology and Archaeology provides a single reference source for archaeologists, students, professionals, and academics in archaeology as well as those in anthropology and related disciplines.

About this title

Review:

"Indispensable for archaeologists who need to understand GIS...[A] very thorough examination of the subject." -K. Kris Hirst, About.com

About this edition

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0415246393
• ISBN 13: 9780415246392
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288