Digital Recording in Archaeological Excavation Using Tablet Pc

The paper presents the use of tablet pc in archaeology, it explains what is a tablet PC and the steps to draw archaeological remains using a digital photomosaic. It’s described the test made during the experience in the roman town Grumentum in South Italy (2006). The use of a tablet pc in archaeological excavation is a powerful tool for digital documentation. This work explains a method to take advantage of this new hardware using directly during the excavation. The advantages offered by this hardware are that one obtains precision, quick recording times and the possibility to manipulate big data during an excavation. During Grumentum experience the working area (12m x 13m) was divided in small rectangles (2m x 1,5m) and every single rectangle was photographed using a digital camera and rectified on site. The topography and location of finds are recorded using total station. All data are imported into tablet PC, where the digital photoplan was available to draw directly on the screen. In this last step in the tablet PC it was possible to draw the shapes and layers of single objects and stratigraphic layer. In general the digitalization is made in a second step in laboratory, using tablet pc it’s possible reduce time and it’s possible to draw directly on the excavation. This recording operation is the data entry of a excavation GIS that constitutes one portion of the general GIS of the archaeological site. The obvious advantage is the immediate data realization without necessity of inspections succeeded.