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Artifact Distribution Spatial analysis of artifacts within a single site has not been one of the more common features of GIS and archaeology, but that will most likely change in the future. GIS allows for large databases of artifacts to be plotted on top of the map of the site. Besides providing advanced maps of the artifact distribution within the site, one can look at the spatial relationships of the artifacts with other features, both natural and man made, as well as with each other. Patterns of artifact concentration may show up, and provide hints where the archaeologist should excavate next. Moreover, the meaning of a particular site may become more clear with the understanding of the relationships between artifacts and other features. Religious practice and custom may become apparent. For example, if votive offerings to a divinity were all found on the east side of a precinct, then one could assume that orientation played a role in that societies' religious practices. With artifact distribution, GIS analysis may be the most useful when using the query application. Artifact distribution within a site demonstrates the areas of human activity and from the type of artifact one can determine what kind of activity took place there. |
| The Athienou Archaeological Project, directed by Dr. Toumazou, has researched the area of central Cyprus through excavations over the past 10 years. GIS analysis has been used to investigate the relationship of multiple sites in the Athienou region. (12) However, GIS has not been utilized to analyze the primary site, the sanctuary of Malloura (shown on the right). For my GIS class project, I intend to do an artifact distribution for the project. Most of the artifacts found so far in the excavations will be plotted over the plan of the sanctuary. I will then be able to do query searches in an attempt to understand why artifacts were found the way they were in relation to other features as well as themselves. The value of artifact distribution can be summed up by Awe and Moyes: "By viewing artifact distributions on both local and global scales, researchers hoped that patterns could be discerned in the way artifacts were deposited and associated." (13) |
Malloura Sanctuary 1999 - Courtesy of Athienou Archaeological Project |
