Keynote Speaker - Paperless Archaeology Dr. Matthew Adams, Director, Albright Institute of Archaeological Research

1. Paperless Archaeology
on the
Matthew J. Adams
W.F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research
in collaboration with
Michael Ashley, Center for Digital Archaeology
Adam B. Prins, Durham University

2. The Jezreel Valley Regional Project (JVRP)
is a long-term, multi-disciplinary survey and
excavation project investigating the history of
human activity in the Jezreel Valley from the
Paleolithic through the Ottoman period. This
project strives for a total history of the region
using the tools and theoretical approaches of
such disciplines as archaeology,
anthropology, geography, history,
ethnography, and the natural sciences, within
an organizational framework provided by
landscape archaeology. @jezreelvalleyrp

3. Total Archaeology
Regional scale
Unprecedented
aspirations for total
archaeology
Field work, research,
publication

4. The JVRP Vision
A central repository for all data concerning the valley.
Historical, Archaeological, Geological,
Environmental data
A suite of tools for research and field work.
Utilizing the latest technology and keeping up with it
going forward.
Publishing data and interpretations online.
Sharing data with stakeholders: from IAA to local
community
Fully digital, adaptable, using off the shelf equipment,
specialist-free and inexpensive.
Fun to use and look cool.

5. The Challenges
Multiscaler: site > region
100's of sites, scores of excavations,
dozens of surveys
Enormous bibliography
Scattered historical sources in multiple
languages
Variances in disciplinary methods and
standards
Tons of analog data, very little digitized
Analog tools still used in fieldwork

6. Traditional Analog Tools of the Archaeologist
Notebooks, Sketches, Technical Drawings,
Photographs
Spatial and contextual information from an
archaeological site
Disconnect between the field work and analysis
Digitization vs. born digital

7. Paperless Archaeology
Reinvent archaeological method and recording so that all
data is born digital
Allows on-the-fly data processing, interpretation, and
publication
Analysis can happen in the moment and inform the next
moment of field work.

8. Paperless JVRP Field Work
Digital acquisition of spatial data
Total Stations
3D Models
Digital recording-keeping
Context Records, notes, etc.
Digital media
Photographs
Audio and Video
Everything must find its way into the database upon birth

9. Born Digital Spatial Data

11. UAV
Imagery
Video
Other sensors

12. Model on Sketchfab
3D Modeling at the Locus Level

13. “Time lapse”
Excavation
Sequence
Final situation of excavation square CV81 at
Legio, the Roman Legionary Camp of the VI
Roman Legion “Legio VI Ferrata,” Northern
Israel.

15. Uses of the Digital 3D Models
3D manipulable record of the excavation
High-accuracy representations
Visualizations (hillshades, slope models etc.)
Reconstructed photos
Models for accurate 3D reconstruction
Deriving traditional plan and sections
Public engagement with “real” archaeology

19. Born Digital Data Needs a Home

20. Codifi

21. Codifi is designed to augment/replace paper based recording
and rapidly accelerate data entry while providing a solid ‘born-
archival’ workflow for documents, images, video and geo-spatial
information .

22. Codifi
Configurable for any
organization
Multiple projects, sites
Windows, Mac, iOS
JVRP
Tel Megiddo East
( 2013)
Legio (2013, 2015)

23. Dashboard
Modular Code
Actions and Places
JVRP
Survey Support
Excavation Process

24. Selects
Clear pop-up for
anticipated entity
(sites, areas)
Legio 2015
Hidden Areas
reduced confusion
and sped up
fieldwork

25. The Grid
Active squares
oriented to real
coordinate space
Touch interface
JVRP
Areas B and C
include
orthophotos
generated in field
in near-real time
(same day)

26. Loci
Loci in Area by locus
#
Heads up status
JVRP
Provided cross check
with GIS

27. Locus Sheet
Tabbed interface
follows workflow
Controlled
vocabularies, auto-
naming, calculations
reduces errors
JVRP
Relations to previous
seasons
Required no training
to use (intuitive)

28. Soil Science
Accommodates
multiple
sedimentology, such
as Munsell
Real time feedback
and color coding
JVRP
Streamlined terms
met with JVRP
wide concepts of
sedimentology

29. Materials
New in 2015, touch
interface for artifacts
and samples
2 click mantra
JVRP
Experimentation and
User Experience
testing results in 80-
90% time savings and
dramatic reduction in
errors

30. Materials
Programmable to
specific materials
of site or research
objectives
JVRP
Ordered by most
found

31. Materials
Easy to read label
creator forges
exactly what to write
on the physical tag
Auto numbering by
locus
JVRP
Experimentations with
QR codes and
label printers show
major potential

32. Media
Field media recording on
iPad
Document
Photos
Audio
Video
Auto geo-location
Drag/Drop dSLR and other
media on PC/Mac
JVRP
Field recorders created
daily videos, working
shots, opening and
closing photos
Full Archival Workflow in
lab for ca. 10,000 items

33. Workflow
and
Archiving
Add any media
Auto geo-location
Drag/Drop dSLR and
other media on
PC/Mac
JVRP
Orthophotos, drawings,
reports, archival
photos added and
archived

34. 3D Web
Viewer
3D HTML-5 viewer via
SketchFab
Works on all platforms
(PC/Mac, iOS)
JVRP
3D models per locus to
assist in drawing,
interpretation, visitor
experience
Web based GIS for
survey

35. Field Report
Up to the moment
reporting
Locus status
Checklist
Easy export to
diaries
JVRP
Field recorders copies
field reports to
daily diaries and
could finish entry
on 20 min bus ride
to kibbutz

36. Web
Integration
Google Docs for Diaries
JVRP
Each supervisor kept
digital diary, shared
with core team via
GDocs
Aggregate of all
information in Codifi
saves time and
provided cross check

37. What happens after fieldwork?

38. Reports
Dynamic Outputs as
Reports
Charts
Datasets
XML
Auto geo-location
Drag/Drop dSLR and other
media on PC/Mac
JVRP
Field recorders created
daily diaries, working
shots, opening and
closing shots
Full Archival Workflow in
lab for ca. 10,000 items

39. Codifi Core Principles
Codifi allows everyone to work the way you
want .
Do archaeology the way you think it should
be done.
Codifi bends to accommodate human
processing while maintaining archival data
standards.

40. – I sr ael f i nkelstei n
“ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION DATA DO
NOT FIT NEATLY INTO THE FRAMEWORK OF
ANY STANDARD DATABASE MANAGEMENT
SYSTEM )DBMS)”

41. CIDOC CRM + CODIFI
Doerr, Theodoridou - “CRMdig: A generic digital provenance model for scientific observation"
CIDOC
Conceptual model of real
world processed
Powerful but challenging to
implement
Codifi
Rooted in CIDOC model
Essential super-class
structure emphasizes
archival practice
Compatible and extensible
Award winning, peer
reviewed model*
*Best Paper, 10th Vast International
Symposium On Virtual Reality, Archeology And
Cultural Heritage, published in 2011, Journal on
Computing and Cultural Heritage (JOCCH)

42. Codifi Entities
Codifi Concepts
People, Media and Things,
encountered in Places through
Events.
Flexible, but structured
Based on archival data standards
that are internationally guided but
locally implemented

43. and the web?

44. Barriers to Web Publishing
Cost
Web publishing generally requires high levels of technical skill in order to do well
Centralized tools and platforms often “homogenize” individual projects and research objectives in order to create
a consistent, often branded experience
Web publishing is often a huge amount of effort
perceived low value of digital publishing in contrast to traditional, paper publishing in peer-reviewed journals
Requirements for differential access to data - governmental/agency reporting, protection of sensitive information
(site locations, for example), embargo for scholastic advancement, personal/private content
Fiduciary responsibility for long term preservation and access to content

45. Needs
Collaborative Environment - more than a website
Should integrate harmoniously with fieldwork
Should be beautiful, enjoyable, personalized experience for each project
Should make it possible to connect content from any project or source

46. Codifi Connects Culture

47. Welcome to Codifi Connect
Introducing Codifi Connect, the secure web platform that adapts to
you. With Codifi connect, you create curated collections of results
of your archaeological and cultural heritage projects and can
publish them on your own, secure hosted platform to share in your
terms.
Finally, there’s a platform designed for and by cultural heritage
professionals that empowers us to share our rich data, media and
stories by understanding the complexities of real world
permissions and negotiations.

48. examples

50. Collector
Donors provide
postcards, photos,
objects for scanning
in ‘Roadshows’
Team digitizes, uses
Codifi to add all key
data and prepare for
publishing online
Two sides to every
story - online, both
sides of cards are
presented (Codifi
can handle any
amount of media)

51. Connect
Unique website
Curated experience
Direct upload from
Codifi
Managed through
differential access
with fine grain
controls
Multi-lingual

55. Codifi Connect is in private beta
Safe online place for digital cultural heritage
Secure data centers, archival services
Full control over how you share your data, media, results
Available in 2016

56. Codifi JVRP
Centralizes the entire
archaeological process
of field work, finds
processing, analysis,
interpretation,
publication, data
curation.