GIS in Archeological Applications From a Cultural Perspective

Der Hsien Chang

American River College

Geography 350: Data Acquisition in GIS; Fall 2016

Abstract

Artifact identification is paramount in understanding a site and the human history that evolved from it. Archeological applications on a site using GIS aids the archeologist in proper identification and interpretation of the artifacts. In particular, Chinese artifacts are sometimes mis-identified and mis-categorized due to the lack of understanding of exactly what this artifact is and where on a vessel it comes from. This paper will address in detail how GIS is helpful in the archeological investigation process.

Introduction

One of the most important aspects of archeological work is attempting to reconstruct the past by systematically removing and recording layers of dirt, material culture, flora and fauna samples, and soil content. In the past, the recordation were mostly descriptive in nature. In the instance of artifact identification and interpretation, there did not exist a process to generate a 3 dimensional presentation of the artifact provenience whereby these items could be mapped after their removal. This shortcoming had led to mis-categorization and misunderstandings of Asian ceramics in the analysis process thereby leading to inaccurate interpretations of the archeological site(s).

Background

Generally speaking, Asian historical artifact compilation is not a topic taught in the archeological field work. The misidentification and mis-categorization of Asian artifacts is often found in the archeological literature (Chang 2006). There did not exist a technique to which ceramics could be mapped spatially in 3-D such that the tabular data gathered in the field could be viewed alongside the spatial representation until GIS. The GIS process captures the snapshot of the artifact in its original location in the field prior to removal to provide much more detailed information that would otherwise be lost or shuffled away once the field work was completed. This paper discusses the concept of using GIS to provide a more precise interpretation of the Chinese ceramic assemblages in the context of an archeological site.

Figure 1 Kiln waster pieces from an archeological site in Hong Kong

Methods

With the application of GIS (ArcMap), an archeologist has the ability to have side by side a tabular descriptive and quantitative report alongside a spatial representation of that information at their disposal. This advancement in viewing data from two different vantage points allows the archeologist to not only see in 3-D through the spatial side, but also conduct analyses through the tabular side seeing each layer of material culture contained in specific recorded depths of soil. This process explicitly sheds light on human behaviours of the past.

Results

For a specific example, let’s turn to the widely distributed “Four Seasons” pattern Chinese ceramics. This particular type is found in Oregon, Washington, and California in mining sites, labors’ camp and in Chinese communities from the 1860’s and onward (see Chang 2006, Farncomb 1994, Felton et.al, 1984). The Four Seasons pattern tableware set is unique in that there are at least 7 particular individual pieces within this setting: wine cups (2 sizes), tea cup, small plate, large plate, soup bowl, soup spoon, and serving bowl. This specific motif tableware has been found at sites locally in Auburn, Loomis, and Woodland in various tableware sets (see Farncomb 1996, Felton et.al.1984).

Figure 2 Excavated Chinese ceramics from Virginiatown site

Analysis

The various arrangements of the Four Seasons tableware set implies several kinds of possible settlements at that location: migrant camp, temporary camp, community settlement. Each of these settlements are different in terms of the purpose, the length in terms of time, and even possibly the number of people in the group.

With just a description, a list showing minimum number of units of sherds of ceramics or even just a count of the sherds does not provide a visual representation of the artifacts in both their original provenience prior to removal in the field nor provide a description that could immediately visually correlate to the spatial data at hand (Felton et.al, 1984).

Figure 3 Woodland Opera House Ceramic Count

Presently with the same data noted above, utilizing ArcMap and file geodatabases, it becomes a 3-D visual map with different layers of dirt and within each layer, one can clearly see the ceramic sherds within the dirt prior to removal. Clicking on the individual layer on ArcMap, one can then bring up the tabular data that corresponds to that specific layer of dirt. This ability to view both a tabular data and a spatial data in one screen makes it that much more easily to conduct analyses, comparisons, or interpretations of the ceramics in question. The various Four Seasons tableware sets are complicated to identify especially when the pieces are small during excavation and brought back to the lab for processing and categorizing. The task of identifying the sherds and where on a piece of ceramic it belongs to can be a daunting task if there are many pieces in a tableware set. However, with the mapping tools available in GIS, one can clearly identify the layer that this piece was born from (spatial) as well as know the exact description of that piece of ceramic such as the body, the lip, or the base (tabular).

Conclusion

The concept presented in this paper is that using GIS in archeology, especially in mapping ceramics, Chinese ceramics, commonly distributed in archeological sites across California have simplified the process in the identification and analysis phase of archeological work. Without the spatial representation of the ceramic “in situ” and the tabular data corresponding to the layers of dirt, the paper field documents really provide only a 2-D view of the static site. In the static view, information can be lost, disconnected and even mis-interpreted. GIS brings the archeological site into a visual perspective by illustrating the layer by layer view of what is happening out in the field. This is a powerful way to record, view and convey data.

References

Chang, Der Hsien

2006 Ch’ing Dynasty Chinese Porcelains in California. M.A. Thesis. Department of Anthropology, California State University, Sacramento.

Farncomb, Melissa K.

1994 Historical and Archeological Investigations at Virginiatown: Features 2 and 4 M.A. Thesis. Department of Anthropology, California State University, Sacramento.

Felton, David L., Frank Lortie, and Peter D. Schulz

1984 The Chinese Laundry on Second Street: Archeological Investigations at the Woodland Opera House Site. California Archeological Reports No. 24. Sacramento: California Department of Parks and Recreation.