GIS panaudojimo archeologinių duomenų erdvinėje analizėje galimybės

• Geografinių informacinių sistemų panaudojimo archeologinių duomenų erdvinėje analizėje galimybės
• Possibilities of using gis in the spatial analysis of archaeological data

LTStraipsnyje aptariamos GIS panaudojimo galimybės kartografuojant archeologines vietas ir tiriant jų erdvinės sklaidos dėsningumus. Archeologinių vietų duomenų bazės specifinis neišbaigtumas, pačių duomenų interpretacijos daugiaprasmiškumas gerokai apsunkina įprastą darbo pagal GIS metodiką. Straipsnyje aptariama, kaip reikia formuoti mokslines archeologinių vietų duomenų bazes, galimos jų kodavimo sistemos, archeologinių duomenų bei objektų atrankos, duomenų apdorojimo ir mokslinės analizės galimybės. [Iš leidinio]Reikšminiai žodžiai: GIS panaudojimas archeologijoje; Archeologinės duomenų bazės; Duomenų kodavimo sistemos; GIS technology use in archaeology; Archaeological databases; Data coding systems.

ENThe use of GIS in archaeology, including the creation of scientific databases for archaeological sites, has certain particularities. The indeterminacy of archaeological data and the ambiguity and indefiniteness of their interpretation do not sit well with the traditional principles of database creation (ensuring data integrity, etc.). The development of a project is the first task of any database formation in a GIS environment. In the case of a scientific database of archaeological sites, this task is rather difficult, but it has to be done. The first step is to determine the purpose of database, i.e. for what purpose it is being created. That determines what data and what object characteristics will be necessary. Archaeological site databases can be classified into two groups according to their intended use: 1. Protected archaeological site databases; 2. Scientific databases. Protected archaeological site databases register only the most general formal attributes characteristic of all types of archaeological objects. Scientific archaeological databases should be of considerably broader scope and more complex than protected site databases. Not only do they include a greater number of objects (even destroyed archaeological objects, which are not usually stored in protected archaeological object databases) but also, very importantly, they contain a greater number of recorded attributes. Creating a scientific database on the model of the protected archaeological object databases presents a number of problems. Different types of archaeological objects have different specific features. Therefore, it is necessary to decide whether it is expedient to include every type of archaeological object in one thematic layer, i.e. creating a general attribute table. In this kind of table, most of the fields will remain empty.The priority of attributes in a table and the sequence of their presentation are other aspects of database creation. A database with a perfectly logical structure is easier to work with. It is especially expedient to record the objects' names, ID numbers, and addresses. This should be followed by their main attributes, the order of their importance, and finally the information sources. Another important aspect is the choice of the type of fields for recording the data. Several options are possible, but two types: string (text) fields and numerical fields, are mainly used in tables. Another group of problems include those related to data encoding. In order to prepare attribute tables for further analysis, text data needs to be converted into numbers; and these numerical values have to be entered into the digital fields, i.e. it is necessary to perform a data encoding operation. Depending on the mapping scale, archaeological sites are usually plotted on maps as dots or areas. Only a few objects can be plotted using lines (defensive walls, secret paths through bogs, etc.). For the graphical depiction of archaeological sites it is first of all necessary to choose which basic symbol to use: dots or areas. The application of GIS technologies in archaeology is a field where the human factor is of paramount importance. The frequently indefinite, incomplete, and ambiguous nature of archaeological data does not allow for 'blind faith' in GIS technologies. However, despite the shortcomings described in this article, the use of GIS technologies in archaeology allows the rapid completion of large scale scientific research projects that would more complex to complete using other methods. [From the publication]