This multidisciplinary group aims to develop general theory and methods for producing and validating archaeological knowledge. It covers a wide range of topics, including formalization of archaeological problems, ontologies, mathematical modeling, statistical studies, geographic information systems, excavation methods, chronology, taphonomic studies, and many others. The commission is also concerned with the recording and archiving of archaeological data, as well as the critical study of archaeological paradigms.
This multidisciplinary group brings together all the disciplines and specialties of Archaeology that contribute to build a general theory (an epistemology) and methods to produce archaeological knowledge and validate it, by field surveys, archaeological excavations and laboratory studies. The commission is also concerned with the recording and archiving of archaeological data, as well as the critical study of archaeological paradigms.
We are concerned with historiography, research and synthesis on the following topics: – Formalization of the archaeological problems, – formalization of the description of objects, sites and territories, – formalization of reasoning, – formalization of scientific publication, – Ontologies, – Archaeological Information System, – Mathematical modeling, – Computational simulations, – Statistical studies applied to quantitative archaeology, – Geographic Information Systems, – Archaeological Data retrieval systems, – 3D Archaeology, – Methods of intrasite prospection and of surveys at a large scale, – Archaeological sampling, – Excavation methods, – Stratigraphic methods, – Methods of relative and absolute chronology – Taphonomic studies, – Typological methods, – Methods of cultural identification, – Palaeoanthropometric and palaeogenetic methods, – Methods for specific studies in funerary archaeology, – Methods of intrasite spatial analysis – Methods of intersite spatial analysis, – Methods of identification of raw materials and manufactured goods, – Methods for analysis of the distribution and transport networks, – Methods of landscape analysis, – Recording and archiving archaeological data, – Methods of the archaeology of architecture, – Demographic methods, – Methods of reconstruction of palaeoenvironment and climate, – Archaeozoological and archaeobotanical methods, – Methods to study of geological and geomorphological archaeological sites, – Methods for the study of the prehistoric and Protohistoric art, – Deciphering of lost writings and languages, – Critical study of the paradigms of archaeology.
