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September 2009
A message recieved from a reader looking for help:

I am an archaeologist involved in the development of a TV series mixing archaeology and gardens, to inform garden restorations, and I am looking for recent examples of where application of a scinetific analysical technique has made a major contribution to the archaeological interpretation of a garden site. It could be a lab-based technique, or a remote-sensing application, just something where the latest technology has been used. Anybody out there got an example? If anyone can help they can contact Phil Bethell directly [mailto:phil.bethell@homecall.co.uk here]

June 2007
There has been a long lull whilst the SASSA team have got on with the business of developing this web site and the field tool (due to go live in a prototype form at the end of July). During this development phase we have been demonstrating SASSA as it evolves at conferences and at 'demo sessions' hosted by some of the commercial units involved with the user advisory group. The feedback we have gathered at these sessions has been invaluable to us and we would like to thank everyone who has been involved.


 * September 2006, Geoarachaeology 2006, Exeter University
 * October 2006, GUARD demonstration, Glasgow
 * February 2007, Durham Archaeological Services demonstration, Durham
 * March 2007, Reading MSc Field Trip demonstration, Wells next the Sea, Norfolk
 * April 2007, Computer Applications in Archaeology, CAA 2007, Berlin, Software demonstration
 * April 2007, Developing International Geoarchaeology 2007, Cambridge, Software demonstration
 * April 2007, European Geosciences Union 2007, Vienna, Software demonstration
 * June 2007, Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service, Field demonstration, Worcester
 * June 2007, Quaternary Environments and the Human Past, Manchester, Software demonstration
 * June 2007, 9th International Conference on Enterprise Information Systems, Madeira, Conference paper

There have also been changes with the team. Clare Wilson has moved to a lectureship at Stirling University though she is still heavily involved with the project. Her replacement as research assistant on the project is Dr. Ted Pollard, who has just finished a PhD in coastal geoarchaeology at the University of Ulster. He brings with him skills in sedimentology and coastal geoarchaeology which will strengthen the team considerably.

Again many thanks to everyone who has contributed to the project.

SASSA team (Clare, Donald, Ted, David, Julie, and Martin)

October 2006
The summer has seen significant progression with development of the SASSA field tool and it is almost in a position to start being formally tested with the user community.

The new approach to the implementation of the field tool discussed in earlier project news updates has paid dividends with significant gains made improving both the functionality and usability of the tool. The field tool now handles recording the site record, from a soil perspective, in a full hierarchical format that is logically similar to current practices. It also now reliably implements the ‘decision tool’ aspect of the application whereby users can obtain answers and advice to key geoarchaeological questions. The advisory content of the field tool is provided through closely coupled links to a ‘wiki’ application that stores the all of the additional reference material appropriate to the area of investigation. The use of this resource to store field tool material in addition to the tutorials and case studies ensures one easily accessible and fully searchable depository for all the geoarchaeological content.

A prototype of the field tool was taken to the recent Geoarchaeology 2006 conference in Exeter where a small number of people were invited to give their comments. Over the forthcoming months an extended period of testing and refining the field tool and wiki applications shall take place. In addition, a Forum tool shall be brought on-line and tested in unison with these other applications.

With the addition of the Wiki and the supporting information it contains we are now approaching a position where we will be able to make the developing SASSA system available on-line. In the first instance this will only be available to the user and academic advisory groups who will also be given editing rights so that they may add or edit content or comments as they wish. In particular we are seeking case study material that illustrates the use of particular techniques, the study of particular site / environment / deposit types, or address particular geoarchaeological research questions. With the underlying SASSA system largely in place the task of filling its pages is now a priority. If you have specific ideas of what information should be included, or if you think you have or know of work that would make a good case study please contact Clare Wilson.

We wish to thank all interested parties for your continued support and look forward to receiving your comments... Regards, Donald Davidson, David Cairns, Julie Cowie, Clare Wilson, and Martin Blunn. (SASSA development team)

May 2006
We are aware that after the initial few months of the SASSA project all has been quiet for a while, and we thought it would be a good idea to provide a brief report of what has been happening over the last few months.

As it is known, the main components of SASSA are to be:

A background tutorial on soil and sedimentary processes, and the scope of geoarchaeology. A field tool linked to a tutorial to aid description and interpretation of deposits. Details of field and laboratory analytical techniques with a tool to provide suggestions of potential techniques based on the research question, deposit type and available samples, and giving information about the relative time and cost implications. A database of case studies searchable using case based reasoning to rank the most relevant. A glossary. A forum and a wiki to allow interaction and enable the long-term development of the SASSA site. In the first few months, the project focussed on the development of the field tool as this is the technically most demanding and potentially most contentious aspect. An initial prototype proved very useful for generating thoughts and discussions on the general idea and on the design of the interface. On the basis of this limited consultation the software design team considered that improvements could be made especially if the system is to be used on other platforms such as a PDA or ‘Smartphone’. The prototype also had known shortcomings with respect to data storage, which had to be addressed. It has been these two aspects of the project that have been the focus of research and development since the start of the year.

In essence, the software is in the process of being re-designed to be able to handle, within a single generic data storage structure, all the interactive data processing aspects of the SASSA field tool (such as the ‘analytical decision support’ and ‘case study case based reasoning’ systems). It is envisaged that this will be completed later in the summer, when the new system will be demonstrated on-line. (An announcement on the web site closer to the time will advertise this and invite any interested parties for feedback and comments.)

In the meantime we have been developing the geoarchaeological content to populate the site. To date this has concentrated on the field tool, but we are keen not to spend too long developing this before being able to demonstrate it. Hence, we are now spending more time developing the static pages and selecting and classifying case study material. Collecting together material now means that once the data storage structure is complete prototype versions of all aspects of SASSA will rapidly begin to emerge.

We wish to thank all interested parties for your continued support and look forward to receiving your comments as SASSA begins to emerge at the end of the summer.

Regards, Donald Davidson, David Cairns, Julie Cowie, Clare Wilson, and Martin Blunn. (SASSA development team)

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