ANT 4852/ANG 6853: Applying GIS in Archaeological Research

ANT 4852/ANG 6853: Applying GIS in Archaeological Research#

University of Florida
Fall 2025


Instructor
Whittaker Schroder
Turlington B129
(352) 294-6396
wschroder@ufl.edu

Instructor Office Hours
Tuesdays 11:30 am–1:00 pm
Wednesdays 11:30–1:00 pm

Class Meetings
Tuesday, Period 4, 10:40–11:30 am
Thursday, Periods 4–5, 10:40 am–12:35 pm
Dauer 0342

Prerequisites ANT 2140

Description
Examines use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for management and analysis of geospatial data in anthropology, experimenting with methods and critically examining case studies. Covers both methodology (collecting data in the field, using publicly-available data; integrating and querying them in a GIS) and theory (the nature of spatial data; scales and topics of analysis). Also examines selected case studies and considers critiques that have been leveled at GIS and spatial analysis.

Anthropology is at root the study of human variation, and archaeology might be characterized as the study of human variation in the past: how much diversity of human behavior/beliefs was there at any given time and place, and how different was that from the present? Both practically and theoretically, a key component of that variation is spatial variation: for example, in human behavior, material culture, language, demographic attributes, or resources. Archaeological method and theory have to grapple with recording and analyzing spatial variation. As a result, geospatial technologies generally and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in particular are increasingly recognized as critical tools. In this course we will examine the use of GIS for management and analysis of geospatial data in anthropological contexts, both experimenting with methods and critically examining case studies.

We will cover both methodological approaches (collecting data in the field and finding publicly-available data as well as integrating and querying it in a GIS) and theoretical implications (the nature of spatial data as well as scales and topics of analysis). We will also examine selected case studies and consider critiques that have been leveled at GIS in particular and spatial analysis in general.

The course emphasis is on working with concrete data, and software use will be an integral part of the process. We will use ArcGIS Pro, along with an introduction to free and open-source (FOSS) software, primarily QGIS (https://www.qgis.org/en/site/). Students are encouraged to work with their own data, though a pre-existing research project is by no means a prerequisite. Background in using GIS will be very helpful, but is not strictly necessary; students with no background should expect to invest significant time learning the mechanics of GIS. The course will culminate in the production of a poster presentation using GIS to address a specific research question.