A new methodology for archaeological analysis: Using visualization and interaction to explore spatial links in excavation data

The following dissertation presents a methodology for conducting analysis of archaeological excavation data. The research advances the hypothesis that, given a comprehensive, three-dimensional representation of the entire excavation site record and given an environment for examination and interaction with the data and ways to perform other analytical tasks, archaeologists will be able conduct research and analysis not heretofore possible.; Until now, archaeologists were limited to two-dimensional, paper-based visualization methods for observation of their site features and excavated objects. Statistical analyses using excavation databases are generally performed to augment on-site observations about artifact concentrations and the percentages of object typologies. Unfortunately, these traditional, formal methods severely constrain the archaeologists' ability to synthesize excavation findings because they do not represent the spatial component of the data set and therefore, do not depict the complex relationships that exist within it.; The proposed methodology implements graphic visualization and interaction techniques for archaeologists and researchers to navigate, visualize, query, observe and interact with the range of three-dimensionally referenced finds and site features unearthed during the excavation process. It provides a new medium for archaeologists to synthesize on-site findings and it also allows them to derive new conclusions about their field data by exploring its inherent spatial linkages. This dissertation will introduce the new methodology and will present findings derived from observing archaeologists using it for analysis.