#Digital archaeologists

Today we are hosting a visit from Mike Rains. I have worked with Mike Rains for many years now – since the beginning of the Insula IX project in fact. Mike is the developer of the supreme Integrated Archaeological DataBase (IADB) which we use at Silchester. Without this database it is safe to say that MikeFulford and I would never be where we are with the publication of this enormous project i.e. 3 published monographs and 3 published websites.

IADBMike is here today to help me further my ideal of paperless excavation! Throughout this project we have worked with various technologies: ruggedised laptops, palm handhelds, digital pens, GPS planning techniques, kindles…..to find new ways to speed up the transfer of data to computer and hence shorten the time between postexcavation and publication. Additionally, encouraging our students to work with digital technologies is a pathway to more gainful employment.

Digital

Mike has developed an ‘app’ of the IADB which will work on smartphones, iPad minis, kindle fires etc. I have in mind a project whereby all of my teams have an iPad mini which can be used to enter all data digitally on site – context cards, plans, photographs, finds and samplesĀ  – direct to the database. At the moment cost prohibits this! So we will begin with a project mini……one iPad mini for a chosen team. Using our wireless network on site the iPad mini will allow access to the IADB and permit us to enter contexts direct on site, draw the plan of the context to be entered and take a photograph of it! As is usual these records must be checked – but directly on computer instead of on paper which then has to be later digitised. So a step is missed out……which could greatly shorten postexcavation time to our great advantage. And if anyone is too too nervous about the lack of paper records….well, they can of course be printed out from the computer!

We are only on the first step…..but my ultimate vision is for everyone on site to enter data this way…..as more and more people have smartphones….it can be used to record all archaeology as it is excavated. #fingertip archaeology indeed.

So, today was all about the training…..Mike trained Nick, Dan and myself as well as the Planning Placements Nicola and Rob – and then Sarah Henley as the chosen Supervisor. It was a very productive training session – and the concept is perfect! Unfortunately it then failed in the execution! Our wireless network on site appears to have dropped off! As far as I can work out, our wireless aerial is not working anymore….so a phone call to the university’s IT services is required. Watch this space! You have not heard the last of the mobile IADB…..

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Our mobile team, left to right: Grace, Nicola, Rob and Mike

Traditional planning as demonstrated by Martin Labram!

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Pencil to paper archaeology

The experiment begins……

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Rob and Grace and the iPad mini on site

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It’s all about the planning shoes…..

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Grace meets the iPad mini…..

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And….we are off!

But our students do need to learn the traditional recording methods….so back to the drawing board with Dan and his taught session on traditional planning at Silchester.

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Planning Master Class

I spent a little time walking around and visiting the different ares of work on site. I am pleased to say that everything is progressing wonderfully. People are working hard and there is a good feeling on site.

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Leslie, Phil and Carolina oversee the Finds area on site

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Cindy’s team hard at work overseen by Tom, Lily, Nellie, Zoe and Nicola!

And site news……we have bottomed our second well of the season! Congratulations #well team…..John, Rich, Steve and Perry! Final depth was c.2m….and nothing in the base! No wonderful finds…..a few pieces of pottery which suggest the primary fill is Iron Age. Onto the next well, team!

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Steve, Perry and Rich – 2 wells down…..

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The excavated well…nice job, well done

We are speeding up in Insula III…slowly we are beginning to recognise the Victorian interventions and to begin a strategy of excavation. There are definitely excitements to come here!

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James and Nick demonstrate how it is done Insula III style!

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