Paper short abstract:

Using an archaeological case study, this paper will investigate the use of interactive Virtual Reconstructions within the representation of archaeological data.

Paper long abstract:

The vast majority of archaeological projects are under appreciated by the way that they are represented, not only within archaeology but to the public as well; in many ways archaeological discoveries and especially excavations rarely find an audience beyond those who actually read excavation reports. There have been many criticisms in the way that excavation reports have been written, especially in terms of their direct focus on specific groups, the limited use of data collected within excavations and the technical focus that they follow. There is need then to change this for the better and introduce a new way to represent archaeological information not only to the discipline but in ways that excite the public, making them more interested in what archaeologist do and how we study the past. This paper aims to do this through an interactive three dimensional model of an excavation that represents all aspects of an archaeological report in a way that can be understood by all. The paper will discuss the different methods that could be used, previous work associated and will attempt to discuss the future of archaeological excavations through computational archaeology.