Stratigraphic Analysis and The Matrix: connecting and reusing digital records and archives...
0Keith May & James Taylor
Stratigraphic laws and principles underpin the archaeological records from excavated sites and are essential for integrated analysis, wider synthesis and accessible digital archiving of the growing body of archaeological data and reports generated through the commercial archaeological sector in the UK and internationally. On most excavated sites, the stratigraphic record, most often visualized, and to a degree quantifiable, in the form of a stratigraphic matrix, acts as a primary, if not the primary piece of evidence for how, and in what order, the site was excavated. As such the stratigraphic record is the key mechanism that enables anyone less familiar with the site, to re-visit the excavation records, understand what data is most relevant for any research questions, or problems encountered, and piece together the underlying details of how the interpretations by the excavator(s) were arrived at.
This paper will present work from The Matrix project [AH/T002093/1] which has addressed some of the current problems caused by the lack of standardized approaches to analysis and digital archives of archaeological stratigraphic and phasing data. It will introduce work being undertaken on a new online handbook 'The Archaeologists Guide to Good Practice - Handbook' (AG2GP-Handbook) [AH/X006735/1] project. The aim of this new project is to draw together the collective expertise of the main archaeological contractors in the UK and, in consultation with other stakeholders from the sector, undertake the necessary feasibility work and organize the required collaborative activities to develop a consortium approach and online tools and resources to support best working practice for this work.
The paper will discuss challenges in handling the complexities raised by issues with data quality in archaeological records and uncertainty in dating evidence along with practical experiences of re-using stratigraphic data from digital archives deposited with the Archaeology Data service (ADS). The presentation will include demonstration of a prototype matrix and phasing analysis tool that enables cross-comparison of stratigraphic and temporal records using Allen temporal operators (Allen 1983).