Digital recording of archaeological survey finds and analysis through Geographical Information Systems

Recent technological developments in the field of mobile devices have influenced the way archaeological surveys are conducted. The collection, management and analysis of archaeological data were enriched through the use of new digital applications and devices. In this work we present the application of a technique for digital recording of archaeological surface finds. This technique relies on the potentials of modern mobile devices and web technologies, in combination with the application of geographic information systems (GIS). It enables the direct digital recording of the exact location of artifacts in the field, using the GNSS sensor of smart mobile devices, allowing the rapid extraction of collected data and their analysis with geographic information systems.
The technique was developed and used during the systematic archaeological survey of selected prehistoric settlements in the Aegean Thrace, within the research program MapFarm. The research program aims to improve the knowledge about the Neolithic settlers of Aegean Thrace. The project was carried out in the last 2 years focusing on the Neolithic settlements in the Prefectures of Rhodope and Xanthe with the aim to investigate their intra-site organization and duration of habitation, along with palaeoenvironment and possible environmental changes in the settlements' area that may have affected the habitation. To this end archaeological surface survey, geophysical survey, and geological investigations were undertaken on 8 settlements.
The application of this technique has significantly reduced the time required for recording in the field, assuring at the same time a more efficient, precise and fast analysis of data. In addition, confident conclusions emerged regarding the distribution of the archaeological finds in the context of the intra-site level and the site’s extent, taking into account factors influencing older survey methods.