Teaching Archaeological Mapping and Data Management with KoBoToolbox

Abstract

Mapping constitutes one of the most elemental forms of archaeological practice. Archaeological mapping has evolved from hefty, costly transits to even more expensive computerized total stations, hand-held GPS units, and proprietary mapping software, such as ESRI’s ArcGIS, to visualize and analyze data. Because of the cost and extensive training involved in using this equipment, students have often been left out of the mapping and data visualization process. KoBoToolbox offers a solution to this issue, providing an open source, completely paperless, collaborative workspace for creating and using data collection forms, storing and visualizing data, and sharing those results. This chapter will present the experiences of five archaeologists using KoBoToolbox in diverse settings; case studies include how KoBoToolbox can be used to compile, share, and analyze sixteenth and seventeenth century porcelain; map artifacts, architectural features, and archaeological activity on Michigan State University’s campus; map historic landscape modification in Pennsylvania; and survey and record tombstones to generate a gravemaker inventory of an abandoned public cemetery as a part of a service learning class.