GIS in Archaeology and History

This module introduces the principles of archaeological GIS, the techniques deployed to acquire, manage and visualise spatial data, as well as the most frequently used analytical tools.

Students will become proficient users of ESRI's market-leading ArcGIS software, but will also be encouraged to think about GIS functionality from a broader, software-agnostic perspective. Students acquire the skills necessary for a complete GIS workflow from data acquisition through analysis to cartographic output. Throughout there is a strong concern with how such techniques might be applied to solve substantive archaeological problems.

This module would particularly benefit those who wish to have an introduction to GIS to facilitate their own research. and/or as a platform for attending further modules such as GIS Approaches to Past Landscapes (for which it is a pre-requisite) or Spatial Statistics, Network Analysis and Human History. The module is taught using a combination of lectures, practical sessions and tutorials in one of the Institute's computing cluster rooms. It is assessed via four practical components and one essay.