1st November 2008, 09:24 PM
I feel obligated to report on our "paperless site" which I am currently involved with. It is not entirely paperless because like Dr. Pete I think paper plans are superior in some circumstances.
Hardware problems have required a retreat to tried and tested paper record more than once, but these can be solved.
My main concern so far is that unlike a context sheet, a database in a PDA device doesn't give you a obviously visible reminder of what has been filled in and what hasn't. Also, amendments to finished records are seldom done. The out of sight, out of mind principle is very prevalent with digital recording. God knows what is being missed.
Also, there doesn't seem room in an entirely digital record for annotated and interpretive sketches that are so useful on a paper context sheet.
My hunch is that if archaeology goes for completely digital recording in the future then it is going to subtly change the processes of archaeology in ways that we can't predict. It just isn't a case of replicating a traditional recording system with a different recording medium.
Hardware problems have required a retreat to tried and tested paper record more than once, but these can be solved.
My main concern so far is that unlike a context sheet, a database in a PDA device doesn't give you a obviously visible reminder of what has been filled in and what hasn't. Also, amendments to finished records are seldom done. The out of sight, out of mind principle is very prevalent with digital recording. God knows what is being missed.
Also, there doesn't seem room in an entirely digital record for annotated and interpretive sketches that are so useful on a paper context sheet.
My hunch is that if archaeology goes for completely digital recording in the future then it is going to subtly change the processes of archaeology in ways that we can't predict. It just isn't a case of replicating a traditional recording system with a different recording medium.