Teaching through the Past: Advances in Technological Analysis of the Archaeological Record

Over the last half century archaeology has continuously adopted new technologies to more effectively study the past, and has grown as a technologically savvy and innovative field. Twenty-first century archaeologists must not only be skilled in traditional methods of analysis and interpretation of the archaeological record, but learn to incorporate a myriad of ever-changing platforms of technology into their skill set. From computer modeling to geophysical survey methods, from high-resolution satellite imagery to chemical analysis of lithics, advances in technology have helped piece together the story of human history and prehistory in ways previously not possible. With greater accessibility and ease of use, technology has become a constant companion to archaeologists both in the field and the lab. It has allowed for the collection, analysis, and comparison of big data sets and encouraged new interpretations of old knowledge. This session will explore a few of the recent advances in technological tools as well as new applications for existing technologies to the field of archaeology.