The emergence of new technology has made it possible to use more sophisticated tools and methods in archaeological research and education. For example, using remote sensing methods, geophysical prospection devices such as sonar and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) can identify subsurface features. These devices can operate from aircraft or on land and collect data from various environments. Once gathered, the data can be interpreted using GIS maps and computer-aided analysis. The data can even be converted into 3-D computer images.

Open source tools

Open-source tools are impacting archaeologists in a variety of ways. One example is the use of participatory rural appraisal software, which allows participants to collect and analyze data about a site. This software is a relatively low-cost and easy-to-use alternative to traditional survey methods.

Besides being a great way to engage students in learning about ancient human history, archaeology teaches critical thinking, problem-solving, cultural awareness, and citizenship. For example, prehistoric cultures had no writing, so examining and understanding archaeological material helps explain their way of life. In addition, teaching archaeology is a great way to capitalize on a student's love for forensics TV shows and their desire to solve mysteries. It can also serve as a gateway to a liberal arts education.

In the Global South, archaeology is an untapped resource. Unfortunately, it is often exploited in unsustainable ways. For example, in Peru, where tourism is the second largest source of income, archaeological heritage is threatened by rapid economic development. As a result, archaeological sites are increasingly surrounded by urban areas. Urban development also increases the risk of encroachment and looting, causing communities to become disconnected from their heritage.

3D printing

Archaeology is one field that has been impacted by 3D printing. The British Museum, for example, has implemented object-handling desks in its galleries. These are designed to allow museum visitors to touch, manipulate and experiment with the objects on display. While 2D images and models cannot offer the same tactile experience, 3D prints can help educators and students explore diverse cultural objects and their history.

Archaeologists have long advocated digital approaches to preserve and study archaeological sites, and 3D printing has made these methods even more accessible. For example, polynomial texture mapping has been hailed as a method to study cuneiform, while laser scanning has helped share 3D models of artifacts worldwide. Moreover, 3D printing has enabled scientists and researchers to recreate ancient objects from any region in the world.

Machine learning

The University of Notre Dame researchers have developed an algorithm that helps them determine the age of archaeological sites. In the past, archaeologists have estimated pottery age on the order of centuries, but now, their methods can narrow down the age of the objects to decades. This algorithm also has the potential to help archaeologists study ancient statues.

Archaeologists have also begun to apply machine learning to ancient texts. In the 1990s, researchers began to incorporate computer programs into ancient documents. But these techniques were limited by the 3D shape of the ancient tablets and the complexity of the cuneiform characters. However, with deep learning, new technologies have begun to change the landscape of archaeology. For example, a new system known as DeepScribe, trained on 6,000 images from the Persepolis Fortification Archive, can now interpret the inscriptions with close to 80% accuracy.

Linked Data

One project aimed to explore the role of semantic web technologies in undergraduate archaeology education. The project, funded by the Encyclopedia of Life, explored the relationship between archaeological data and EOL taxa. The project was a collaboration between archaeologists, environmental scientists, contemporary dancers, and education studies.

Data literacy skills are essential for archaeological research paper writer. Without these skills, data quality and reuse are compromised. Often, data specialists are part-time staff, and temporary funding may prevent them from staying on a project long enough to develop and maintain critical information systems and workflows. Linked data will enable archaeologists to work with diverse and potentially untapped data.

Linked Data is a web technology that makes it easier for researchers to link records to other data resources. This allows researchers to draw more accurate conclusions and access larger samples and material evidence. This can enable transformative research projects and new modes of engagement.

Inclusion in archaeology education

Inclusion in archaeology education means bringing into archaeological activities and research those not within the field's narrow, elite circle of trained specialists. This can be done to include indigenous peoples' diverse perspectives and address issues of political or ideological significance. However, many professors continue to struggle with the challenge of managing this diversity in the classroom.

Inclusion in archaeology education is critical to ensuring the discipline is accessible to all. For example, studying people with disabilities is often overlooked or does not enjoy the same level of esteem as other cultural findings. This issue raises important political questions about the field's funding and the social perception of disability as a barrier to human experience.

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