Special Session 15

The history of archaeological computing has long been characterised by the distinction between the application of mathematical and statistical techniques, as part of the so-called movement of ‘quantitative archaeology’, and the use of databases and information systems for descriptive and documentary purposes. Today, data integration and the development of advanced technological tools allow archaeologists to process and investigate disparate data sources, addressing simultaneously all the issues raised by archaeological research strategies and meeting the requirements of both the qualitative and quantitative approach.
This special session aims to strengthen the theoretical and methodological discussion that set its roots in the 1960s and that today can contribute to benchmark ICT developments in the following research areas:

• Quantitative methods and statistical techniques
• Databases and Archaeological Information Systems
• Documentation strategies
• Visualisation techniques
• Simulation and validation studies

PAOLA MOSCATI is Research Director at CNR-ISMA (Istituto di Studi sul Mediterraneo Antico). Archaeologist specialised in Ancient Topography and computer applications in archaeology, she has conducted surveys and excavations in Etruria and in the Faliscan territory and she is scientific director of the CNR research project ‘Archeologia e società dell’informazione. Metodologie informatiche e modelli formali per una conoscenza arricchita del patrimonio archeologico’. Editor in chief of the international open access Journal ‘Archeologia e Calcolatori’, she is the scientific coordinator of the international project ‘The history of archaeological computing’, jointly promoted by the CNR and the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei.

ALESSANDRA CARAVALE is a Researcher at CNR-ISMA (Istituto di Studi sul Mediterraneo Antico). Archaeologist specialised in history and methods of archaeological investigation, material culture and computer applications in archaeology, she conducted surveys and excavations in Rome and Central Italy. Member of the editorial board of the international open access Journal ‘Archeologia e Calcolatori’, her current interests concern open access policies, digital resources for archaeology, automated cataloguing of archaeological heritage and online databases of ancient objects.