First International Summer School in Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis in Archaeology - University of Siena / September 10-17, 2006

UNIVERSITY OF SIENA

First International Summer School in Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis in Archaeology

September 10-17, 2006

Villa Lanzi, Campiglia Marittima (Italy)


Aim

The archaeological research, from diagnosis to publication, represents a scientific process that involves, on different scales, the application of quantitative and analytical methods. This aspect of the archaeological discipline has been greatly improved and enhanced by the introduction of computer applications, and more specifically their use in archaeological data storage, manipulation and analysis. Despite advances in computational techniques, formalization and correct application of quantitative methodological procedures remain, nevertheless, a fundamental requirement for a rigorous and strict methodological approach. In other words, "data analysis" remains a central issue for almost every archaeological research process: excavation, landscape archaeology and materials and remains studies.

The School is aimed at students, postgraduate students, researchers and professionals in the archaeological field interested and/or committed in the field of computer applications in archaeology that wish to strength and consolidate their methodological and theoretical expertise and knowledge in the fields of quantitative methods and data analysis. The School is organized by the Archaeology Department of the University of Siena, under the auspices and with the collaboration of the Department of Mathematics of the University of Parma. The I-QMDAA is part of the International Summer School in Archaeology of the University of Siena.


School Outline

The courses aim to provide the students a comprehensive and basic introduction to methodological concepts in the areas of descriptive statistics, explorative analysis of archaeological data, computer science concepts and tools for data analysis, GIS applications for study and analysis of spatial data and artificial intelligence applications in the archaeological research process.

The school will run for 6 consecutive days. The daily schedule consist of 8 hours split into 2 hours lectures. A good familiarity and knowledge of computer systems and applications will be required. The official language of the school is English. Students may also request to the organizers a final test as a certificate for the acquisition of postgraduate program credits.


Programme & Lecturers

Roberto Bagnara (Dipartimento di Matematica, Università di Parma)
Computer science concepts for archaeologists

Juan A. Barcelo (Departament de Prehistòria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)
Explaining the shape, size, texture and composition of archaeological artifacts: a neurocomputational approach

Hans Peter Blankholm (Institutt for Arkeologi, Universitetet i Tromsø)
The state of the art of intra-site spatial analysis

Mark Lake (Institute of Archeology, University College of London)
Agent-based modelling in archaeology

Benjamin Ducke (Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel)
G.I.S. and predictive modelling in archaeology

Kenneth Kvamme (Department of Anthropology, University of Arkansas)
Analyzing and modelling archaeological distributions

Giancarlo Macchi (Dipartimento di Archeologia e Storia delle Arti, Università di Siena)
Spatial Analysis: human settlement pattern analysis

Antonio Moro (Facoltà di Ingegneria, Università di Firenze)
Spatial data and complexity


The Venue

The I-QMDAA Summer School is to be held in the congress centre of Villa Lanzi, near Campiglia Marittima(South Tuscany). This facility is located in the middle of the outstanding Archaeological-Mines Park of San Silvestro. The central feature of the park is the medieval castle of San Silvestro excavated during the eighties and nineties by the Archeology Department of the University of Siena.


Registration & Fees

The registration fee covers the lectures, course notes, full board from the 11th to 16th September and social events. Early application is strongly recommended.

The fee for the school is 540 euros: double room accommodation. The fee will cover also dinning and lodging expenses. Prospective students should however send a complete Curriculum Vitae. Fees include expenses for lodging, dining, tour to the Baratti Gulf Area & Populonia excavations, and a Social Dinner. Be aware of the fact that students will have to cover personal travel costs and personal additional expenses.


Applications

The number of participants is limited to 26. If the number of applicants exceeds this limit, applicants will be accepted on the basis of the submitted Curriculum Vitae. In order to have a balanced attendance from different countries, national distribution will be also taken into consideration. The application request, as well as Curriculum Vitae, must be sent to qmdaa@unisi.it no later than July 1st, 2006. Applicants will be notified of acceptance no later than July 15th.


Further information

For further information and updates, please see:
www.archeogr.unisi.it/qmdaa/
or contact the School organizers at the email address:
qmdaa@unisi.it