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Thinking data. Integrative big data approaches towards an ‘introspective’ digital archaeology in the ancient Mediterranean
Chelazzi, Francesca
Bonzano, Simone
2020
Abstract
Archaeological data is what economists call a ‘non-rivalrous’ good: it can be processed again and again with no diminishing of its value. The proliferation of surveys and excavations, coupled with the large-scale adoption of digitalization in archaeology, exponentially increased the amount of data. Instead of keeping isolated ‘data silos’, one of the current challenges is the aggregation and correlation of archaeological data in the 3V’s perspective of ‘Big Data’: high volume, high velocity and high variety.
Archaeologists make traditionally use of SQL RDBMS databases, although the rising importance of Big Data in Computer Science has recently brought to our attention a new typology of Database Management System: the NoSQL. This typology of database can much more effectively handle Big Data by preserving a ‘more human’ approach through dynamic queries and enhanced functions of data visualisation. In this perspective, NoSQL may prove to be a fundamental tool in moving from ‘data silos’ to a more complex strategy of data management.
This paper explores the potential of a specific type of NoSQL Graph database (Neo4j) of handling archaeological ‘Big Data’, through the discussion of a specific case study in Bronze Age South-western Cyprus.Archaeological data is what economists call a ‘non-rivalrous’ good: it can be processed again and again with no diminishing of its value. The proliferation of surveys and excavations, coupled with the large-scale adoption of digitalization in archaeology, exponentially increased the amount of data. Instead of keeping isolated ‘data silos’, one of the current challenges is the aggregation and correlation of archaeological data in the 3V’s perspective of ‘Big Data’: high volume, high velocity and high variety.
Archaeologists make traditionally use of SQL RDBMS databases, although the rising importance of Big Data in Computer Science has recently brought to our attention a new typology of Database Management System: the NoSQL. This typology of database can much more effectively handle Big Data by preserving a ‘more human’ approach through dynamic queries and enhanced functions of data visualisation. In this perspective, NoSQL may prove to be a fundamental tool in moving from ‘data silos’ to a more complex strategy of data management.
This paper explores the potential of a specific type of NoSQL Graph database (Neo4j) of handling archaeological ‘Big Data’, through the discussion of a specific case study in Bronze Age South-western Cyprus.
Publisher
EUT Edizioni Università di Trieste
Source
Francesca Chelazzi, Simone Bonzano, "Thinking data. Integrative big data approaches towards an ‘introspective’ digital archaeology in the ancient Mediterranean", in: Costanza Coppini, Francesca Simi (Edited by), "Interactions and New Directions in Near Eastern Archaeology. Volume 3. Proceedings of the 5th “Broadening Horizons” Conference (Udine 5-8 June 2017)", Trieste, EUT Edizioni Università di Trieste, 2020, pp. 59-76
Languages
en
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internazionale
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