Digital Heritage and Archaeology in Practice: Presentation, Teaching, and Engagement - Hardcover

by Ethan Watrall (Editor), Lynne Goldstein (Editor)

Exploring the use of digital methods in heritage studies and archaeological research

The two volumes of Digital Heritage and Archaeology in Practice bring together archaeologists and heritage professionals from private, public, and academic sectors to discuss practical applications of digital and computational approaches to the field. Contributors thoughtfully explore the diverse and exciting ways in which digital methods are being deployed in archaeological interpretation and analysis, museum collections and archives, and community engagement, as well as the unique challenges that these approaches bring.

This volume begins with discussions of digitization at museums and other heritage institutions, including ethical questions around access to archives associated with descendant communities and the use of metadata standards to preserve records for the future. Next, case studies provide several examples of public and community engagement with archaeology using digital tools. The volume concludes with information on ways archaeologists have taught digital methods to both students and professionals, addressing field school contexts and open source software for mapping and 3D imaging.

Digital Heritage and Archaeology in Practice highlights the importance of community, generosity, and openness in the use of digital tools and technologies. Providing a purposeful counterweight to the idea that digital archaeology requires expensive infrastructure, proprietary software, complicated processes, and opaque workflows, these volumes privilege perspectives that embrace straightforward and transparent approaches as models for the future.

Author Biography

Ethan Watrall is associate professor of anthropology, director of the Cultural Heritage Informatics Initiative, and director of the Digital Heritage Imaging and Innovation Lab at Michigan State University. Lynne Goldstein is professor emerita of anthropology and founding director of the Campus Archaeology Program at Michigan State University. She is the coauthor of Aztalan: Mysteries of an Ancient Indian Town. Goldstein is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for American Archaeology.

Contributors: Lynne Goldstein Ethan Watrall Katie Kirakosian Irene Gates Elizabeth Galvin Jennifer Wexler Adam Rabinowitz Elizabeth Minor Paola Favela McKenna Morris Kalei Oliver Georgia Oppenheim Rachael Tao Marta Lorenzon Rick Bonnie Suzie Thomas Katherine Cook Eero Hyvönen Esko Ikkala Mikko Koho Jouni Tuominen Anna Wessman Ashley Peles Alexis Pantos Sara Perry L. Meghan Dennis Harald Fredheim Shawn Graham Stacey L. Camp Benjamin Carter Autumn Painter Sarah M. Rowe Katheryn Sampeck Heather McKillop