An archaeologist, a historian, and a geophysicist walk into a project: on methodological and practical challenges as well as opportunities in interdisciplinary archaeological research
Abstract:
Interdisciplinary archaeological research involves the challenging interplay of diverse data, methodologies, and subject-specific expertise. Archaeologists, historians, and geophysicists for example approach their work with fundamental differences in focus and methodology creating significant hurdles when attempting to bridge disciplinary gaps. The challenges are manifold: from creating data formats that are comprehensible and usable throughout disciplines, to preprocessing information while retaining its integrity across disciplinary boundaries, to addressing the barriers of technical expertise, standards, and language. Further complicating the matter are differences in research priorities and objectives, often hindering effective collaboration, particularly in large, multi-institutional, or international projects. Using examples from trial case-studies, leveraging CIDOC CRM and tools like the open source database software OpenAtlas, this talk will examine preliminary efforts to overcome these obstacles. It will also consider how the integration of historical narratives, geophysical data, and archaeological findings can enrich interdisciplinary work but requires sustained effort to align methodologies. It will emphasise the importance of a continued development of tools and workflows that not only accommodate but actively support interdisciplinary research. By focusing on problems and potential pathways forward, this lecture aims to foster a critical dialogue about how to better support collaboration in the cultural heritage and archaeological sciences.
Bio:
Roland Filzwieser is a postdoctoral researcher at the Vienna Institute for Archaeological Science (VIAS) at the University of Vienna and member of the research network Human Evolution and Archaeological Sciences (HEAS), doing research in archaeological prospection, landscape archaeology, medieval history, and digital humanities. He specialises in geophysical prospection and digital documentation methods in combination with historical written and cartographic sources. Roland has contributed significantly to digitisation and dissemination projects such as “Beyond the Item – Biographies and Itineraries of Cultural Heritage Objects in Museums and beyond” (bITEM) and the “Digital Deserted Medieval Villages Archive of the Austrian Society for Medieval and Modern Archaeology” (DeVill), integrating CIDOC CRM-based frameworks and the OpenAtlas software to digitise, document, and disseminate complex historical datasets. His work spans large-scale archaeological prospection, medieval settlement research, and historical map analysis, ensuring adherence to FAIR principles to promote open access and interdisciplinary collaboration. In addition to his academic pursuits, Roland frequently collaborates with museums, such as the Natural History Museum Vienna, enhancing public engagement with historical artifacts and sites through digital twins, 3D visualisations, and linked open data.
This is a hybrid event, which will be delivered on the University of Bradford campus (Richmond Building, Room E59) and online Via Teams. Book your ticket from:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/university-of-bradford
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