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UCD School of Archaeology

Scoil na Seandálaíochta UCD

Artefacts and Digital Data

Principal Investigators

Dr Rob Sands

Research Assistant: Michael Corcoran (June-July 2009)

Funding
Heritage Council Grants 2009

Abstract

This project sets out to explore approaches to handling artefact data. Although the focus has been on trying to obtain a sense of what is occurring in Ireland a broader perspective has been maintained throughout and views and expreiences are sought from as many sources as possible.

The final report for this stage is now on line and can be downloaded from here >> 

Methodology

A three pronged approach was taken to the project:

  1. An on line questionnaire – see appendix A for the question set provided. The questions were designed to complement those already asked as part of the INSTAR funded Share-It project and were reviewed prior to use by both the Share-IT team and members of the Archaeological Data Service in the UK. The questionnaire was set up using the Survey Monkey on line facility.
  2. A series of targeted interviews with specialists both in Ireland, Britain and beyond.
  3. A collation of web sites and resources focusing on artefactual studies.

The questionnaire was targeted both to specific people and to groups:

  • PhD researchers, primarily  in Ireland,  engaged in material based research
  • Specialist contractors, primarily in Ireland.
  • Academic Staff in Ireland
  • Specialist Groups in Ireland and beyond, including:
    • Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI)
    • Institute of Field Archaeologists – Finds Group
    • Finds Group York

Interviews were conducted with selected individuals suggested as a result of conversations with colleagues, delegates at the Computer Applications in Archaeology Conference and associates at the Archaeological Data Service in the UK. These interviews were conducted to a set of basic but tailored questions but were deliberately flexible and wide ranging.

Web Review

As part of this project an extensive web review was undertaken to look for examples of artefactual work as represented on the World Wide Web. This review was far reaching and included both static descriptions of artefcatualy related projects and fully dynamic resources. The connections collected will be made available via this web site after the end of the project.