Workshop Summary

Workshop: Technologies and Archaeological Excavation
Theory and Practice
15-18 MAY 2017

Accurate and fast documentation is a main task in archaeological research. Technological progress and innovation contributes greatly to the development and progress of Archaeology, in discovering, researching, and documenting ancient sites (historic and prehistoric), either urban or rural.

The International Hellenic University’s Workshop aims at offering a multidisciplinary approach on four different scientific methods applied in Archaeology.

Each course is divided in two parts.

During Part I, experts will present new technologies applied in archaeological research, both in the field and beyond.

During Part II, participants will have the opportunity to practice and become familiar with the new technologies used by modern archaeological research.

All lectures will be held in English. 

Lecture Summary: During the past decades, incredible breakthroughs have occurred in the ways archaeologists confront historical landscapes. Non-invasive methods, such as remote sensing and geophysics, have emerged as significant tools of archaeological research. No longer marginalized to a supporting role for excavations and pedestrian surveying, they have developed into fundamental ways of investigating layers of cultural heritage. This seminar serves as a practical introduction in the application of remote sensing in Archaeology, including aerial remote sensing, satellite image processing, and geophysical prospection. Specific case-studies in Greece will be explored where remote sensing offers new opportunities for characterizing the spatial attributes of historical landscapes. This general introduction will be followed by a practicum on the use of GIS in Archaeology (open-source platform QGIS) by exploring remote sensing datasets at the Neo Rysio excavations of the International Hellenic University.

Lecturer: Jamieson C. Donati (Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute for Mediterranean Studies)

Lecture Summary: The basic principles of design and especially those of archaeological design will be presented and analyzed. The notions of measurements, types of design (plan, section, and elevation), scale, documentation of archaeological sites and objects will be demonstrated. The session will comprise a lecture and an exercise. The participants will have the chance to test and implement part of the knowledge they will gain from the lecture on the exercise, where they will have the chance to measure, document and design an object.

Lecturer: Alkisti Daniil (Architect A.U.Th M. Arch MSc A.U.Th)

Lecture Summary: This course introduces students to the field of archaeological photography and familiarizes them with the basic technical skills necessary for their specialized photographic needs.

The course will include: Introduction to documentation and survey photography; Learning the basic use of photographic equipment; Learning the use of scale, the importance of light direction, and point of view; Demonstration of shooting on site using natural light; Practical exercise in a variety of case studies.

On completion of the course students should be able to: Define and manage the photographic needs of an archaeological research project; Operate the main function of a digital camera; Distinguish, evaluate, and overcome difficult lighting conditions by determining the correct exposure; Apply proper photographic composition.

Necessary equipment: Any digital camera (preferably a digital camera with interchangeable lenses).

Lecturer: Orestis Kourakis (MA, Fulbright Scholar, Archeological Museum of Thessaloniki)

Lecture Summary: Reverse engineering is increasingly applied globally in the field of archaeology with the primary purpose of producing digital and physical documentation. The generated scanned data are used for digital archiving, virtual restoration and visualization, restoration as well as construction of authentic copies. The current session will present to the participants information regarding the 3D scanning and 3D printing technologies, while live demonstration of these technologies will take place. Some unique case studies will be also presented that will emphasize the necessity for implementation of reverse engineering advanced techniques in archaeological research.

Lecture Outline:

10:00 -10:45: 3D Scanning and 3D Printing Technologies: The Basics (Dr. Dimitrios Tzetzis)

10:45 – 11:45: Investigation and Reconstruction of Archeological Findings (Prof. Kyriakos Efstathiou) / Research, Design and Construction of a Functional Model of the Antikythera Mechanism (Alexandros Basiakoulis-Marianna Efstathiou)

11:45– 12:00 Break

12:00 – 14:00 3D Scanning and 3D Printing Demonstration Session

Lecturers: Dimitrios Tzetzis (Dr., Academic Associate, International Hellenic University) | Prof. Kyriakos Efstathiou (Dep. of Mechanical Engineering, AUTh) | Alexandros Basiakoulis, Marianna Efstathiou (3D Solidforms)

Working Hours: 10.00 am - 14.00 pm

Venue: International Hellenic University Campus, Thessaloniki, Greece

Attendance in Free- upon Registration

Certificates of Attendance will be provided at the end of the Programme.

Participants and Application Procedure: 

The Workshop on Technologies and Archaeological Excavation welcomes applicants from a wide range of educational background. Participants can be undergraduate students and graduates of related disciplines (Archaeology, Architecture, Museology, Conservation Studies, History, Tourism, etc.). Applications from other professionals with an interest in technologies applied in archaeology will also be taken into consideration.

In order to apply, please submit at the online registration form: http://e-services.ihu.edu.gr/registration-form/210/online-form

For more information please contact Mrs Anastasia Karavasili, at a.karavasili@ihu.edu.gr – or - call at 0030-2310 807529.