Articles by Thierry Galmiche

The Pôle archéologique from Aisne Department excavated a ninth and tenth century graveyard in Mortefontaine (Aisne). Two hundred graves were excavated in a field (50 m long, and 5 m wide) and integrated in a GIS. The decision to build this last system was taken after the end of the excavation, without any specific field process, which constituted an important technical constraint. Each grave is a part of a database built in collaboration with the anthro¬pologist studying them and the archaeologist in charge of the excavation. The system makes it possible to fill the database independently from the GIS. Although the study is not yet over, we already have the first results in terms of distribution. They show the usefulness of this system to manage and understand this kind of excavation.

The use of virtual imaging in the framework of preventive archaeology helps us understand, describe and interpret the vestiges that one finds on the terrain. 3D reproduction has often been considered as a tool for data dissemination that is intended for the general public. Nevertheless, for several years now the new tools available allow us to optimize work on the terrain as well as asking new questions about the interpretation and consequently, creating new prospects for research. The archaeological services, whose main task is related to prevention, must deal with these requirements for understanding while at the same time facing time limitations. At the archaeology office of the Département of Aisne, we were able to create a process for 3D representation on a project concerning a modern tile factory. This work made it possible for us to confirm or invalidate the hypotheses and to offer new answers to questions which had not been brought up in the field during the research project. Virtual reality in preventive archaeology is supported by a potential that is as scientific as it is communicative and which archaeologists will have to deal with.