Smart tools for archaeological survey in different frameworks and contexts: approaches, analysis, results

Abstract

The world of geomatics today provides new tools, smart and low cost, for archaeological survey, from geographical positioning to detailed drawing and graphic documentation of past evidence. These instruments, light and not bulky, interface directly with tablets, iPads or smartphones via intuitive applications and speed up the data collection in the field: archaeological data collection seems not to be a big issue today and 3D survey appears to be accessible even to less experienced archaeologists. We have tested the Trimble Catalyst DA2 smart system for centimetric georeferencing at the Curiae Veteres in Rome (Italy), at the Sun Temple of Niuserra, in Abu Ghurab (Egypt) and inside the ancient site of Eridu in Iraq: it was a good opportunity to check the accuracy of this tool, especially when associated to detailed and close-range survey activities, related to landscape archaeology and stratigraphic excavations. As we will see, if the instrument cannot replace more precise measurement tools still today (such as total station or laser scanner), in the field of georeferencing can be alternative to more expensive and complex GNSS systems, and it proved to be quite effective in systematic archaeological survey of large areas, especially in association with digital aerial photogrammetry made by UAV-UAS.