Figure 6.b 5. Queries and Analysis Our main goal in developing the Archave system was to provide a simple format for displaying excavation data whereby remote users could come to many of the same conclusions archaeologists arrive at during excavation procedures. This was to be accomplished by allowing users to investigate and manipulate artifact and site data at close range and perform a variety of queries for analysis. The system currently allows users to search for six types of bulk finds and a full range of special artifacts in seventeen trenches. As the user navigates in the model at full-scale, queries can be performed to show each of the six types of bulk finds as clusters in defined trenches.
Users can navigate through the model to examine it with variable concentrations of artifacts.
They can also ask to see special finds in the same context to try and establish relationships between the two artifact types. Our initial tests with the system have shown that it is fairly easy for the user to identify key areas with simple query commands. By doing a variety of queries with the six types of bulk find data, it's possible to see where excavation areas relate with the architectural finds and where important loci in each trench are located. Currently, the user cannot access enough realistic data about special finds to use them for dating areas and relating them to bulk finds. We posit that providing the user with a special find model hyper linked to a database with additional data about the object will provide the user with enough information to make educated conclusions.