Visualizing Archaeologists: A Reflexive History of Visualization Practice in Archaeology

Visualization techniques may have changed over the years, but have they fundamentally changed archaeological visual literacy and the ways archaeologists create knowledge? Or do new digital tools merely disguise conventional practices? The answer may reside in a deeper understanding of the long tradi...

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Main Author: Opgenhaffen Loes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: De Gruyter 2021-06-01
Series:Open Archaeology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2020-0138
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spelling doaj-5c6844c86bfb40b8a58ae5ffbc87d6582021-10-03T07:42:40ZengDe GruyterOpen Archaeology2300-65602021-06-017135337710.1515/opar-2020-0138Visualizing Archaeologists: A Reflexive History of Visualization Practice in ArchaeologyOpgenhaffen Loes0ACASA – Department of Archaeology, University of Amsterdam, Turfdraagsterpad 9, Postbox 94203, 1090 GE Amsterdam, NetherlandsVisualization techniques may have changed over the years, but have they fundamentally changed archaeological visual literacy and the ways archaeologists create knowledge? Or do new digital tools merely disguise conventional practices? The answer may reside in a deeper understanding of the long tradition of visualization practice, from the Renaissance to the present, for which the foundation lies in the activities of antiquarians and artists, as well as artistic, technical, and scientific innovations. This paper presents an historical synopsis of two usually separated but complementary research areas, digital archaeology and archaeological visualization, and builds on previous research undertaken on these traditionally separated subjects. By taking a slightly Dutch perspective I will introduce a few visualizing protagonists who have left substantial traces in our collective visual memory, aiming to contribute to a more inclusive historical narrative on archaeological visualization. The overview ends with an integrated discussion on the shared creative visual practice and its epistemic role in archaeological knowledge production. A praxis-oriented and reflexive approach to the history of visualization provides a critical understanding of the current workings of 3D visualization as a creative practice, and how archaeology responds and acts upon innovations and the adoption of new visualization technology.https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2020-0138visualization practiceepistemologytechnological changeantiquariansinnovation
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Opgenhaffen Loes
spellingShingle Opgenhaffen Loes
Visualizing Archaeologists: A Reflexive History of Visualization Practice in Archaeology
Open Archaeology
visualization practice
epistemology
technological change
antiquarians
innovation
author_facet Opgenhaffen Loes
author_sort Opgenhaffen Loes
title Visualizing Archaeologists: A Reflexive History of Visualization Practice in Archaeology
title_short Visualizing Archaeologists: A Reflexive History of Visualization Practice in Archaeology
title_full Visualizing Archaeologists: A Reflexive History of Visualization Practice in Archaeology
title_fullStr Visualizing Archaeologists: A Reflexive History of Visualization Practice in Archaeology
title_full_unstemmed Visualizing Archaeologists: A Reflexive History of Visualization Practice in Archaeology
title_sort visualizing archaeologists: a reflexive history of visualization practice in archaeology
publisher De Gruyter
series Open Archaeology
issn 2300-6560
publishDate 2021-06-01
description Visualization techniques may have changed over the years, but have they fundamentally changed archaeological visual literacy and the ways archaeologists create knowledge? Or do new digital tools merely disguise conventional practices? The answer may reside in a deeper understanding of the long tradition of visualization practice, from the Renaissance to the present, for which the foundation lies in the activities of antiquarians and artists, as well as artistic, technical, and scientific innovations. This paper presents an historical synopsis of two usually separated but complementary research areas, digital archaeology and archaeological visualization, and builds on previous research undertaken on these traditionally separated subjects. By taking a slightly Dutch perspective I will introduce a few visualizing protagonists who have left substantial traces in our collective visual memory, aiming to contribute to a more inclusive historical narrative on archaeological visualization. The overview ends with an integrated discussion on the shared creative visual practice and its epistemic role in archaeological knowledge production. A praxis-oriented and reflexive approach to the history of visualization provides a critical understanding of the current workings of 3D visualization as a creative practice, and how archaeology responds and acts upon innovations and the adoption of new visualization technology.
topic visualization practice
epistemology
technological change
antiquarians
innovation
url https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2020-0138
work_keys_str_mv AT opgenhaffenloes visualizingarchaeologistsareflexivehistoryofvisualizationpracticeinarchaeology
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