# Redefining Archaeological Research: Digital Tools, Challenges, and Integration in Advancing Methods
## 6 Conclusions  
Digital tools provided by information science and technology are transforming various aspects of archaeology, offering new approaches to researching and interpreting the past. The findings of this study highlight how digital tools are fundamentally reshaping archaeological research, addressing the limitations of traditional methods and opening up new possibilities for exploration and preservation. Today, technologies such as GISs and global positioning systems (GPSs), photo interpretation, LiDAR, drones, and mobile applications are becoming standard tools in the field of archeology. These advancements are extensively used for site recording, artefact distribution mapping, and terrain analysis. For instance, GISs have greatly enhanced archaeological research by improving data collection, management, and spatial analysis. They integrate diverse datasets, such as maps and field data, into a digital environment, enabling the efficient organization and retrieval of vast amounts of information [12; 13; 14]. GISs also facilitate sophisticated analyses, such as proximity, density, and pattern recognition, which help researchers identify relationships between sites, environmental factors, and cultural phenomena. Similarly, GPSs provide precise, efficient, and globally accessible tools for locating and documenting historical sites. They ensure the accurate georeferencing of artefacts and features while facilitating seamless integration with drone surveys and other digital tools. By overcoming the limitations of traditional methods, they enable archaeologists to conduct more accurate and comprehensive analyses, saving time and effort while enhancing the precision of their work [22; 25]. With the advancement of remote sensing, researchers have access to non-invasive, efficient, and highly accurate tools for site analysis and monitoring. These technologies overcome the limitations of traditional methods, offering a broader and deeper understanding of archaeological landscapes while preserving the integrity of sites for future study [28; 36; 37]. Techniques like multispectral and hyperspectral imaging have revealed buried structures and artefacts, while LiDAR and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) have been proven particularly effective in dense or inaccessible terrains. These tools provide insights that ground-based surveys alone could not achieve. Three-dimensional documentation methods have produced highly accurate 3D models that are now used for preservation, restoration, and even public education. Three-dimensional scanning with photogrammetric techniques has revolutionized three-dimensional studies in archaeology by providing precise, efficient, and non-invasive documentation methods, enabling archaeologists to analyze, preserve, and share data with unprecedented accuracy and versatility [48; 54]. This development and advancement allow many people across the globe to engage in archaeological practices--the exploration of past eras in the digital age--by navigating through virtual museums [50] and by dealing with historical artefacts in a meaningful form of participation, enhancing deeper understanding and meaning-making. Mobile applications and digital recording systems have contributed significantly to the efficient, real-time data collection and organization of data. These applications not only improve the accuracy of the analysis but also facilitate collaboration across disciplines, expand access to archaeological features, and help save time while reducing errors in the documentation and analysis process. Mobile applications and digital recording systems have also played a transformative role, making field data collection faster, more accurate, and collaborative. For example, the MapFarm project, which utilized a mobile GIS to document prehistoric sites in Aegean Thrace, demonstrated how these tools streamline workflows and enhance data integration. By allowing real-time updates and coordination, they reduce errors and promote transparency, fundamentally changing how fieldwork is conducted.