Collaboration and Field Practice

The swift and accurate recording, management and communication of archaeological data has been a focus of new technologies for many years. However, the vast majority of these developments have failed to consider or have sidelined the significant role face-to-face conversation plays in developing archaeological interpretation. Therefore, the project attempts to rectify this by examining how novel technologies could be used to encourage archaeologists to engage in increased, relevant face-to-face communication.

The potential benefits are significant both at the level of the individual and the site. Individual archaeologists might benefit from an improved awareness of current activities engaged in by team members, an awareness of current interpretations and theories relating to the archaeology, and psychological benefits resulting from having their opinions heard by others and valued. From the perspective of the site, increased communication and interpretation would result in a better understanding of the archaeology, and recording these conversations would result in improved documentation featuring a rich, multi-vocal and nuanced narrative.

By focusing on how communication occurs at an excavation, new possibilities are presented for disrupting the traditional flow of information between members of the field team. The current hierarchical structure of most excavation teams is a vestige from a time when the director was the only individual present at the excavation with knowledge of the archaeology. However, the vast majority of today’s archaeologists are highly trained professionals who will naturally accrue a greater knowledge of the area they are assigned to work within than anyone else in the team. Therefore, the project will explore whether altering or emphasising existing communication pathways could support alternative hierarchical structures and therefore benefit interpretation. Again, little research has been conducted in this area.

As multiple face-to-face conversations occur both simultaneously and for the duration of an excavation, turning this into data that is coherent and useful is a significant challenge. Therefore, the project will explore methods for automatically or semi-automatically recording conversations, and structuring this data into a form that will allow archaeologists to take advantage of and act on it.

People

• Tom Frankland