Applying Google Earth in paleontological and archaeological research

clipped from anthropology.net

Applying Google Earth in paleontological and archaeological research

An article in advance in the Journal of Human Evolution introduces how the most basic version of Google Earth can be easily used in lieu of other GIS software to display and share paleontological data. This is definitely not the first time we’ve seen news on how Google Earth has aided anthropological research, but it is one of the first times I’ve seen it be embraced in an academic, peer reviewed journal. So if you’re interested in how Google Earth can help you with managing your data, without having to invest a lot of time, effort, and money in complex GIS software, check this paper out: “Google Earth, GIS, and the Great Divide: A new and simple method for sharing paleontological data.”

1493 Wooden fireplace

I was lucky enough to visit a house in Mottisfont the other day that had a tudor fireplace dendro dated to 1493 (late 15th century). It is the earliest wooden fireplace with carving I know of in Hampshire, do correct me if I’m wrong. I have seen plenty of stone ones around this period, but not wooden.

It also has some ‘teardrops’ left from burning rush lights and a daisy wheel inscription to ward off witches and evil.

Scribd

I have placed some documents on a new site called scribd. It is similar in some ways to flickr (sharing images) but scribd is for document sharing. This has the potential to be the library of the future. You add ‘tags’ to you documents so other people can find and read what you have to say, give it a try!

1st Antiquist Workshop

This has been a great workshop so far (2nd of 3 days). We have learnt how to blog and create php databases. This will be a good tool to disseminate my research, both through this blog and the website.

The second day focused on AMP – MySQL, PHP and servers. I have always used MS Access to create a relational database, but I am now aware of the benefits using MySQL can have over Access. Though Access remains a very good database package, it is not so easy to publish the database online, where as writing in MySQL you can. MySQL though is not the easiest of programs to use, so I may well stick with Access for now and make the switch after the PhD. One of the major benefits of using both php and MySQL over access is that they are both open source programs

Tuesday evenening we were lucky to be able to attend a lecture by Professor Colin Renfrew at the University of Southampton. He lecture was on ‘art & archaeology’. He is still incredibly lucid, but I have to admit, I did not really enjoy or understand the lecture. He talked mainly of how archaeology is reflected in contemporary modern art and vice versa. Modern art is not my thing at all, so I struggled to see a connection. Still, it is always great to see him talk. I was lucky enough to work with Renfrew on the Island of Melos, Greece.

British Medieval Architecture

Hi

my name is Richard (Richie) and this is the blog site for www.medievalarchitecture.net

I have decided to create a blog space to share my findings and invite any questions or discusions relating to the main web site.