A database system for digital data in archaeology: case study of a Roman villa rustica in Slovenia

Judita LUX¹ / Jure RAVNIK²

(¹ Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia (ZVKDS), Preventive Archaeology Center, Kranj, Slovenija / ² Kranj, Slovenia)

Outline: Presentation of a system of tools and standards for collecting, archiving and interpretation of digital data in archaeology.

Avitus is a database system for collecting, archiving and interpretation of digital data, presented on a case study of archaeological site Mošnje. The system is compatible with data from various sources, i.e. total station, camera, drawings, forms, descriptions, etc. We created a flexible system which collects as much information as possible in a short time. It effectively combines all the information in a single file on the AutoCAD platform, which is linked to an Access database. It employs computer power for rapid quantitative, qualitative and spatial analyses as soon as the data is entered. The data is sorted in all the subsystems in the same, standardized way, i.e. stratigraphic units (SE), finds (NA), samples (VZ), photography (FS), drawings (RS), etc. Documentary part adds different maps, grids, and other templates. These groups are then organized into smaller units, which increases analytical possibilities.
A copyrighted code called Avitus, that connects all the elements was created in the Visual Basic programming environment and inserted in Autocad and Access. It allows us to migrate, compare and connect data between the two applications, create unlimited subgroups according to various criteria and display results in separate database tables or spatial layers, alone or in any combination with the other layers.
Avitus also provides easier access to standard functions of both parent applications, such as automatically connecting dots, generating layers, computations of square or cubic meters, Harris matrix, etc. It enables user complete control over graphic design, color and font and the use of symbols.
The advantages of Avitus are analytical power, faster data processing, full connectivity of all data covered and the addition of powerful tools. The ultimate objective is to supply archaeologist with fast and reliable way to collect data and create a powerful tool for further analysis after completion of excavations.

Keywords: Digital data, spatial and chronological analysis, connectivity