Books by Kevin Garstki
Every part of archaeological practice is intimately tied to digital technologies, but how deeply ... more Every part of archaeological practice is intimately tied to digital technologies, but how deeply do we really understand the ways these technologies impact the theoretical trends in archaeology, how these trends affect the adoption of these technologies, or how the use of technology alters our interactions with the human past? This volume suggests a critical approach to archaeology in a digital world, a purposeful and systematic application of digital tools in archaeology. This is a call to pay attention to your digital tools, to be explicit about how you are using them, and to understand how they work and impact your own practice. The chapters in this volume demonstrate how this critical, reflexive approach to archaeology in the digital age can be accomplished, touching on topics that include 3D data, predictive and procedural modelling, digital publishing, digital archiving, public and community engagement, ethics, and global sustainability. The scale and scope of this research demonstrates how necessary it is for all archaeological practitioners to approach this digital age with a critical perspective and to be purposeful in our use of digital technologies.
European archaeologists in the last two decades have worked to
integrate a wide range of emerging... more European archaeologists in the last two decades have worked to
integrate a wide range of emerging digital tools to enhance the
recording, analysis, and dissemination of archaeological data. These
techniques have expanded and altered the data collected by
archaeologists as well as their interpretations. At the same time
archaeologists have expanded the capabilities of using these data on a
large scale, across platforms, regions, and time periods, utilising new
and existing digital research infrastructures to enhance the scale of data
used for archaeological interpretations. This Element discusses some of
the most recent, innovative uses of these techniques in European
archaeology at different stages of archaeological work. In addition to
providing an overview of some of these techniques, it critically assesses
these approaches and outlines the recent challenges to the discipline
posed by self-reflexive use of these tools and advocacy for their open
use in cultural heritage preservation and public engagement.
Visualizing Votive Practice is an innovative, open-access, digital monograph that explores the li... more Visualizing Votive Practice is an innovative, open-access, digital monograph that explores the limestone and terracotta sculptures excavated from a rural sanctuary at the site of Athienou-Malloura (Cyprus) by the Athienou Archaeological Project. Chapters on the archaeology of the site, the historiography of Cypriot sculpture, and perspectives on archaeological visualization provide context for the catalogue of 50 representative examples of votive sculpture from the sanctuary. The catalogue not only includes formal and contextual information for each object, but also embeds 3D models directly onto the page. Readers can not only view, but also manipulate, measure, zoom, and rotate each model. Additionally, links at the bottom of each entry unleash high-resolution models with accompanying metadata on the Open Context archaeological data publishing platform and on via the Sketchfab 3D viewing platform as well. This innovative monograph is aimed at a variety of audiences, from Mediterranean archaeologists and students to specialists interested in 3D visualization techniques.
Articles by Kevin Garstki
This article outlines a model for teaching undergraduate and graduate archaeology students the sk... more This article outlines a model for teaching undergraduate and graduate archaeology students the skills for working with open-access archaeological data and using digital tools for analysis. Due to the often limited opportunities for students to learn methods directly for data reuse, large archaeological datasets remain stagnant and unused in digital archives. The bloat of unused data stands as a major ethical hurdle in heritage fields. This article explores an approach for addressing this issue, which is to incorporate data and digital literacy training into standard archaeological curricula. This approach consists of covering a wide range of topics that contribute to digital and data fluency that include both practical digital skills and discussions aimed at contextualizing the tools into larger, ethical, and sociopolitical frameworks. This article offers summaries of the activities and tutorials developed for this project and provides open access to all of the resources for future use.
As new digital technologies now pervade the discipline of archaeology, the practice of creating d... more As new digital technologies now pervade the discipline of archaeology, the practice of creating digital 3D representations of artifacts has become widespread. The rapid growth and acceptance of these technologies into the discipline leaves us in a position where we must engage with how these tools fit our epistemologies. I propose that we look to a much older technology, photography, to inform the way that these digital artifacts are dealt with as we move into an increasingly digital field. In doing so, I will argue that the creation of a 3D digital artifact is a productive process, just as any form of media used to document and interpret the archaeological record. Through this production, the digital form is decoupled from the original physical artifact. The creation of a new representation of the artifact (in the form of a photograph or digital model) provides a new dimension to our interactions with these artifacts. The result of the digital movement in archaeology is a more interactive experience with artifacts, allowing researchers and the public alike digital access to archaeological collections. If the current trend continues, digital artifact modeling will become as indispensable to archaeology as traditional photography. It is therefore necessary for archaeologists to be aware of the subjectivities and biases that exist during this productive act as we move into a more integrated field of digital, representational technologies.
Studies in Digital Heritage, 2019
As archaeologists continue to utilize digital 3D visualization technologies, instruction can also... more As archaeologists continue to utilize digital 3D visualization technologies, instruction can also benefit from purpose-driven uses of these data. This paper outlines a pilot project that used previously captured 3D data in a large-scale immersive environment to supplement the instruction of basic archaeological concepts to an undergraduate introductory anthropology class. The flexibility of the platform allowed excavation trenches to be investigated in three-dimensions, enhancing the understanding of excavation methods and providing additional insight in the choices of the excavators. Additionally, virtual investigation of the artifacts provided a way for students to interact with objects on the other side of the world in a more complete way. Instructor-led immersive virtual experiences have significant potential to widen the interest in archaeology and enhance the instruction of archaeological concepts. They allow students to interact with the content, guided by an expert, and in the presence of each other. While the facilities are not available at every university at the current time, the cost effectiveness and ability to deliver these experiences via head-mounted displays represents an exciting potential extension for complementary self-paced, yet guided, exploration.
Arheo, 2020
This article outlines the first stages of the project, Visualizing Antiquarian Excavations: Digit... more This article outlines the first stages of the project, Visualizing Antiquarian Excavations: Digital Reunification of the Mecklenburg Collection, which uses digital techniques to document and visualise archaeological materials excavated by the Duchess of Mecklenburg. This is an archaeological collection from Iron Age mortuary sites in Slovenia and Austria excavated prior to World War I, composed of artefacts, human remains, faunal material, and archives from the excavation and auction of the collection. The majority of this collection was auctioned off to foreign museums, and a small proportion remained in Slovenia at the National Museum of Slovenia. The dispersal of this collection has made analysing these assemblages as a whole nearly impossible. This project is publishing this material using 3D models, high-resolution artefact photographs, and archival documentation in an open-access format, allowing researchers to re-analyse a foundational European Iron Age archaeological collection.
3-dimensional visualizations are becoming a very useful tool in various archaeological contexts, ... more 3-dimensional visualizations are becoming a very useful tool in various archaeological contexts, from representations of individual artifacts to complex sites and architectural reconstructions. Useful as these applications are, what is often missing is the ability to illuminate detailed intra-site patterning. Here, we provide background on a pilot project that uses data derived from excavation records to create a 3D visualization focused on identifying new burial patterns within a single site. This project digitized burial data (location and artifact) from Tumulus 18 in the Speckhau mound group associated with the early Iron Age (700-400 BC) Heuneburg hillfort in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Based on the spatial data obtained from digitized excavation maps, topographic and locational data were entered into Esri’s ArcScene to construct a 3D model of the mound prior to excavation as well as schematic representations of individual burials within the tumulus. Spatial and attribute data for both graves and artifacts were used to identify preliminary patterns of deposition and social relationships. We address the potential of this method of visualization for highlighting spatio-temporal patterns within burial mounds, and for generating research questions that have not been previously recognized using conventional mortuary analysis methods.
Oxford Journal Of Archaeology, 2019
Archaeological data available for reconstructing the Irish Iron Age have expanded rapidly due to ... more Archaeological data available for reconstructing the Irish Iron Age have expanded rapidly due to the large number of excavations conducted in recent decades as part of large infrastructure projects. This article interprets iron-production sites dating to the first millennium BC, many of which were discovered as part of those projects, as representing discrete but overlapping communities of ironworking practice. Through a synthesis of recent excavation data, I outline the evidence for different modes of iron production that range from very small scale to ironworking specialists attached to high-status persons. Developing a socially-driven reconstruction of this technology provides insight into various aspects of Iron Age society as embedded in local, regional, and pan-regional communities.
Many archaeological objects are recovered as fragments, and 3D modelling offers enormous potentia... more Many archaeological objects are recovered as fragments, and 3D modelling offers enormous potential for the analysis and reconstruction of large assemblages. In particular, structured light scanning provides an accurate record of individual artefacts and can facilitate the identification of joins through details of breakage surfaces and overall morphology. The creation of 3D digital models has the further advantage of enabling the records to be accessed and manipulated remotely, obviating the need for prolonged access to the original materials in museums or repositories. Here, the authors detail the use of structured light scanning to produce a corpus of 3D models based on a sample from a large assemblage of terracotta and limestone sculptural fragments from the Cypro-Archaic period (c. 750–475 BC) at Athienou-Malloura, Cyprus.
Many archaeological objects are recovered as fragments, and 3D modelling offers enormous potentia... more Many archaeological objects are recovered as fragments, and 3D modelling offers enormous potential for the analysis and reconstruction of large assemblages. In particular, structured light scanning provides an accurate record of individual artefacts and can facilitate the identification of joins through details of breakage surfaces and overall morphology. The creation of 3D digital models has the further advantage of enabling the records to be accessed and manipulated remotely, obviating the need for prolonged access to the original materials in museums or repositories. Here, the authors detail the use of structured light scanning to produce a corpus of 3D models based on a sample from a large assemblage of terracotta and limestone sculptural fragments from the Cypro-Archaic period (c. 750–475 BC) at Athienou-Malloura, Cyprus.
Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology, 2018
The use of close-range digital photogrammetry for field documentation has been steadily increasin... more The use of close-range digital photogrammetry for field documentation has been steadily increasing in the past half decade in several parts of the world. However, this technology has not been widely utilized in archaeological contexts in the American Midwest. We explore the utility of close-range photogrammetry in this region with examples from the Guard site (12D29), a Fort Ancient village located in southeastern Indiana. This article outlines the methods utilized for production of georeferenced 3-D models of several units excavated during the 2016 field season. These models as well as plan and profile orthophotos derived from them act as important supplements to standard photographs and drawings made in the field and easily integrate with the site GIS. Overall, we found close-range digital photogrammetry to be very useful to better document excavation details, doing so for limited cost and time expenditure.
The use of close-range digital photogrammetry for field documentation has been steadily increasin... more The use of close-range digital photogrammetry for field documentation has been steadily increasing in the past half decade in several parts of the world. However, this technology has not been widely utilized in archaeological contexts in the American Midwest. We explore the utility of close-range photogrammetry in this region with examples from the Guard site (12D29), a Fort Ancient village located in southeastern Indiana. This article outlines the methods utilized for production of georeferenced 3-D models of several units excavated during the 2016 field season. These models as well as plan and profile orthophotos derived from them act as important supplements to standard photographs and drawings made in the field and easily integrate with the site GIS. Overall, we found close-range digital photogrammetry to be very useful to better document excavation details, doing so for limited cost and time expenditure.
Book Chapters by Kevin Garstki
As the role of virtual 3D technology expands to become commonplace in archaeological research, ar... more As the role of virtual 3D technology expands to become commonplace in archaeological research, archaeologists creating and interacting with digital artefact models will need to be explicit about the kind of knowledge they create through these interactions. Just as early archaeologists had to come to terms with the type of biases involved in artefact photography in the nineteenth century, modern researchers have to adequately reconcile their role in the productive act of making a 3D artefact model. Regardless of the technique used, the creation of a digital 3D model necessitates significant input from the producer. Authority is often given to the digital artefact model and the influence of the producer is not always accounted for in the interaction with the final digital product. As this technology proceeds, how will researchers and the public alike take this productive process into account as they experience the 3D digital artefact? Is metric accuracy enough to maintain artefact authenticity? This paper will address the productive practices involved in creating a 3D digital artefact, and how understanding these practices can influence our experience of the model.
Incomplete Archaeologies: Assembling Knowledge in the Past and Present
As iron technology arose alongside and in many contexts replaced bronze production, the conceptio... more As iron technology arose alongside and in many contexts replaced bronze production, the conception of what it meant to be a smith was rooted in the performance and social action involved in the production of iron objects. The development of iron technology in Ireland was a slow process, where meaning was enacted through the practices of the smith who may have travelled across the landscape from community to community. What it meant to be a smith necessitated both periodic innovation and the maintenance of expectations of competency, as systems of practice implicated in the technology were assessed by the consumers' perception. During the production of iron objects, the smith enacted performative traditions and imagined futures. The performances, saturated with symbolic associations, provided an occasion for multi-temporal meaning-making. The assembling of smith identity was produced concomitantly by the imaginations of his audience, the expectations of those consuming the products, and the choices of the smith himself. This chapter will provide a brief discussion of how we may conceive of the making of identity through a constant assembling of social engagements with performance, mobility, and temporality, specifically as it would have occurred for the itinerant smith, and present a possible case for the assembling of this identity in Iron Age Ireland.
Dissertation by Kevin Garstki
The introduction of iron into Ireland during the 8 th century BCE had profound influences on the ... more The introduction of iron into Ireland during the 8 th century BCE had profound influences on the organization of society, from economic and political networks to the means by which power and status were negotiated. However, the organization of iron production is still relatively poorly understood. This dissertation seeks to explore how iron technology was organized during the Early Iron Age (c. 800 -400 BCE) and Developed Iron Age (c. 400 -1 BCE) in Ireland, and uses this context to demonstrate that the development of new technologies can be most clearly understood by investigating the archaeological remains of production practices. Multiple levels of production were investigated in this study by compiling and synthesizing mostly unpublished excavation reports into a relational GIS database. An output from this database is an online webGIS interface which presents the multi-scalar data collected for this dissertation on iron production in these periods in Ireland. Through the evidence for iron production, this project also examines the organization of society in the Iron Age and the interconnectedness of iron technologies and the rest of social life. The application of different methods of data collection and pattern identification further illuminate the actions performed during technological activities. These actions were not only embodied by the individuals involved, at once creating meaning while recreating social life, iii but also were part of larger patterns of production across the Irish social landscape. Untangling the influences of technology and the products of technical practices on society provides us with a better understanding of technology itself, while simultaneously exposing the deeply embedded nature of technology within social life as a whole.
Conference Posters by Kevin Garstki
he use of close-range digital photogrammetry for field documentation has been steadily increasing... more he use of close-range digital photogrammetry for field documentation has been steadily increasing in the past half-decade, especially in Europe, Mesoamerica, and the Near East. However, this technology has not been widely utilized in archaeological contexts in the American Midwest. We present here a case study of the use of close-range photogrammetry on the Guard Site (12D29), a Fort Ancient village in southeastern Indiana dating to ca. AD 1000 - 1200. This poster outlines the methods used to produce georeferenced 3D models of the excavation trenches during the 2016 field season, shares the final results, and our experiences in using these methods as part of our ongoing site interpretation. Working within existing excavation methods, this technology presents an extremely useful tool to aid in the reconstruction of an excavation, and does so at a limited cost and time expenditure.
Uploads
Books by Kevin Garstki
integrate a wide range of emerging digital tools to enhance the
recording, analysis, and dissemination of archaeological data. These
techniques have expanded and altered the data collected by
archaeologists as well as their interpretations. At the same time
archaeologists have expanded the capabilities of using these data on a
large scale, across platforms, regions, and time periods, utilising new
and existing digital research infrastructures to enhance the scale of data
used for archaeological interpretations. This Element discusses some of
the most recent, innovative uses of these techniques in European
archaeology at different stages of archaeological work. In addition to
providing an overview of some of these techniques, it critically assesses
these approaches and outlines the recent challenges to the discipline
posed by self-reflexive use of these tools and advocacy for their open
use in cultural heritage preservation and public engagement.
Articles by Kevin Garstki
Book Chapters by Kevin Garstki
Dissertation by Kevin Garstki
Conference Posters by Kevin Garstki
integrate a wide range of emerging digital tools to enhance the
recording, analysis, and dissemination of archaeological data. These
techniques have expanded and altered the data collected by
archaeologists as well as their interpretations. At the same time
archaeologists have expanded the capabilities of using these data on a
large scale, across platforms, regions, and time periods, utilising new
and existing digital research infrastructures to enhance the scale of data
used for archaeological interpretations. This Element discusses some of
the most recent, innovative uses of these techniques in European
archaeology at different stages of archaeological work. In addition to
providing an overview of some of these techniques, it critically assesses
these approaches and outlines the recent challenges to the discipline
posed by self-reflexive use of these tools and advocacy for their open
use in cultural heritage preservation and public engagement.