Lab 2: Georeferencing, Digitizing, and Projections

Lab 2: Georeferencing, Digitizing, and Projections#

In this lab, students will work on loading data collected from the field into GIS. This lab will illustrate the importance of keeping detailed notes in the field as well as how to repurpose historic data that may not be up to the same accuracy standards as we might expect today.

The data for this week’s lab includes:

  1. ShooketalMap.jpg – a sketch map of an archaeological site from 1970 showing the location of mounds and excavation units.

  2. SemetebajMap2005.jpg – a sketch map adapted from research at the same site in 2005.

  3. semetebaj_excavations1970.csv – excavation data from 1970 showing the designations of excavation units.

  4. semetebaj_excavations2005.csv – excavation data from 2005 showing the designations of excavation units.

  5. semetebajmap2005_readme.txt – a text file describing the spatial reference system used when mapping the site in 2005.

For this lab, produce your own map of the site showing the location of mounds, 1970 excavations, and 2005 excavations, all with labels. Export your map as an image, add it to a word document, and write a brief narrative describing your workflow.