Publically available geographical information systems (GIS) are providing helpful new ways for researchers, enthusiasts and the general population to explore the physical world.
Sven Ouzman, a lecturer at the University of Pretoria's Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, says both professional and amateur archaeologists have been using Google Earth and similar programs for some time. “At almost every archaeological conference, you find a growing use of especially Google Earth - it's very useful.”
Much attention was focused on Google Earth and Maps recently, after the company touted its role in Wits University Professor Lee Berger's discovery of a new hominid species. Berger and his team reportedly used Google Earth to plot identified fossil sites and discover new caves, via the search giant's navigation tools and satellite imagery.
Michael Jones, chief technology advocate for Google, says: “Google Earth has long been used by scientists, explorers, historians and others to make discoveries that tell us more about the world we inhabit.
“From the discovery of a new area of rainforest in Mozambique, which led to the identification of a new species, to the finding of ruins from a Roman villa in Italy, Google Earth has helped reveal all sorts of new things.”
According to Ouzman, the accuracy of GIS technologies has increased enormously in recent years, as has the coverage. “Systems are cheaper, more user-friendly and with functions like tagging data types or detail in the field, more resolution is available on the archaeological past.”
Although there are still gaps in terms of coverage, especially with regards to Africa, he says in many ways this is a logical progression from using maps and aerial photographs, which encode information that is indicative of older landscapes and sites.
Discover and share
Google's Megalithic Portal has created a comprehensive map of prehistoric and ancient sites, found on the Street View function, with over 50 000 locations plotted and 55 000 images uploaded from all over the world. It demonstrates the dynamic and social nature of these resource services, which invite visitors to contribute their own photos and information.
“More anthropological archaeologies use the tagging or social info attached to many Google maps,” adds Ouzman, who studies graffiti and uses Google Earth to locate sites via their stages in many different parts of the world.
In future, Ouzman hopes to see advancements in the area of virtual mapping and navigation that include greater resolution, better linkage to databases, with new uses. “So, for example, a person could go to a museum's Web site, see a map of a country, and click on areas where there are sites, and be linked not only to images, but reports, hyperlinks to similar finds, and collections.”
See no evil
However, Ouzman points out that these public information systems are not without shortcomings.
“People seem to think these are just technologies that can be used anywhere and under any conditions, ignoring the fact that they are very particular technologies of vision. They see well, but they do not see all.”
He explains that these systems 'see' some things in great detail, like the physical remains of sites, but gloss over other elements, such as the socio-political aspects of military and social surveillance.
“While South African law makes it clear that all heritage sites are a 'national estate' and thus belong to everyone, Google Earth and other programs can make people aware of sites that are not protected, and these sites could then be damaged wittingly or unwittingly by people visiting them.”
He adds that in war zones like Iraq, archaeological sites should be avoided according to the Hague convention. However, many people use them as bases in the knowledge that they are 'safe', only to have programs like Google Earth or Nasa World Wind pinpoint their position and destroy the people and the site they are occupying.
“Also, some locations, like initiation sites, were never intended for public consumption, and making their locations known can cause the people whose site it is great harm and upset,” states Ouzman.
Finally, there are issues of copyright and privacy, he notes. For example, while having the exact location of archaeological sites available to anyone on the Internet can boost interest and discovery, it also raises questions on how to protect them from potential looters.
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