<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
    <channel>
        <title>Journal of Computer Applications in Archaeology Feed</title>
        <link>https://reference-global.com/journal/UPJJCAA</link>
        <description>Reference Global RSS Feed for Journal of Computer Applications in Archaeology</description>
        <lastBuildDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2026 01:37:41 GMT</lastBuildDate>
        <docs>https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html</docs>
        <generator>https://github.com/jpmonette/feed</generator>
        <image>
            <title>Journal of Computer Applications in Archaeology Feed</title>
            <url>https://sciendo-parsed.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/ubiquity/68406cecda18af458e768421/cover-image.jpg</url>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/journal/UPJJCAA</link>
        </image>
        <copyright>All rights reserved 2026, Ubiquity Press</copyright>
        <atom:link href="https://reference-global.com/2/rss/journal/UPJJCAA" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Invisible Herders, Visible Traces: A Spatio-Chemical and Remote Sensing Approach to Deciphering Pastoral Landscapes in Dhofar, Oman]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.272</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.272</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Mobile pastoral communities have inhabited Dhofar, Oman, for over seven millennia, yet they remain systematically underrepresented in the archaeological record due to minimal material traces and lack of permanent structures. As part of the CAMP project, which develops geo-ethnoarchaeological methods to define geochemical fingerprints of pastoral sites, this paper presents preliminary results from an integrated approach designed to address this detection gap. Altogether 1,441 soil samples were collected from 13 seasonal pastoral campsites and two vegetation control locations in the Khor Rori area and analysed using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry. Multi-element data were processed with Compositional Data Analysis (CoDA) and combined with satellite imagery to test whether pastoral activity markers are detectable from orbit. Geochemical results revealed distinctive signatures that differentiate pastoral activity areas from natural background, utilising geostatistical interpolation techniques—a step fundamental for the subsequent remote sensing analysis. Hyperspectral imagery from the Wyvern Dragonette constellation was fused with multispectral Sentinel-2 SWIR bands to overcome the spectral limitations of visible-range sensors. A Gradient Boosting model trained on the fused spectral data to predict anthropogenic enrichment regions achieved meaningful discrimination (ROC-AUC = 0.86). These preliminary findings suggest integrated geochemical-remote sensing approaches can enable landscape-scale detection of ephemeral pastoral campsites, though methodological refinement is needed.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Investigation Into Deep Learning Methods for a Formal Analysis of Ancient Sculptures]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.238</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.238</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The formal analysis of ancient sculptures plays a crucial role in understanding historical contexts, cultures, and societies. In-depth archaeological studies often rely on mostly manual, time-consuming and comprehensive visual analysis conducted by specialists in the field. This work explores the integration of deep learning methods, based on neural network architectures, for segmenting facial components and classifying portraits of the first four Roman emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, with the aim of supporting archaeologists in their work. The segmentation is evaluated objectively using the Intersection over Union metric (IoU), with scores around 0.85, in combination with qualitative visual analysis via image masks. For the classification task, F1-scores of approximately 0.78 are achieved for emperor recognition, and 0.79 for portrait type classification. Furthermore, highlighting the decisive regions used by the network for classification offers a new perspective on the importance of facial regions compared to the traditionally considered hair patterns.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Appearance Meets Geometry: Deep Learning for Semantic Segmentation of Archaeological Fortification Masonry]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.341</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.341</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Modern archaeological practice faces a critical bottleneck: while photogrammetric surveys routinely generate terabytes of high-resolution 3D data from ancient fortifications, manual interpretation methods remain time-consuming and subjective, leaving much documentation underexploited. This paper presents a novel machine-learning workflow that bridges the gap between high-throughput data acquisition and efficient analysis by leveraging both appearance and geometric information from 3D photogrammetric models for automated masonry semantic segmentation.
Our approach transforms 3D documentation into a dual-layer format combining high-resolution orthomosaics with geometry-based normal maps derived from heightmap data. We trained convolutional neural networks on annotated datasets from Carian fortification walls currently spanning approximately 700 m across the ancient sites of Halicarnassus and Cedreae. The training dataset comprises 1,876 m2 of wall facade with 5,560 individually annotated stones across several masonry classes.
Comparative evaluation of appearance-only, geometry-only, and combined models shows consistent performance advantages for the integrated approach. In an ensemble evaluation over five independent training runs per variant, the combined model improved mean stone IoU by 10% over the geometry-only and 4% over the appearance-only model, with this ordering consistent across all individual runs. These results confirm that visual and geometric features provide complementary information essential for robust archaeological analysis. The automated approach enables processing of kilometer-long fortifications in minutes of computation, compared to the weeks of manual drawing and classification that traditional methods require. This transforms archaeological documentation from selective sampling to comprehensive analysis of entire defensive systems. This work represents a concrete step toward realizing photogrammetry’s analytical potential, enabling systematic comparative studies across sites and periods at unprecedented scales.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Theory in Archaeology, Theory in Computing 1: Cross-Fertilisation in CAA and TAG Conferences Between Archaeological Theory and Computer Applications]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.263</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.263</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This article explores the theory content of the Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (CAA) International conferences. The article compares this content to the themes presented in computing sessions in the Theoretical Archaeology Group (TAG) conferences. The article highlights the importance of the DigiTAG sessions in 2016, but also points out the existence of precedents.
At the beginning, the processual paradigm meant that computer applications were part of the mainstream of the discipline and so the same theoretical underpinnings were shared between computer archaeology and theoretical archaeology. This changed with post-processual archaeology and there was a surge of theoretical soul-searching within the computing community in the mid-1990s. Relatively speaking, computing has been discussed more in the TAG conferences than theory has been considered in the CAA conferences and with the ‘digital turn’ this content is also present in more generally themed TAG sessions.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[A Tool for Understanding Taskscapes in Stone Age Coastal Hunter-Fisher-Gatherer Societies: Theoretical Aspects of Building a Relational Database (NAUTICC) for Large-Scale Analysis]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.244</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.244</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This paper introduces the design process behind NAUTICC (Norms and Uses of Techniques in Prehistoric Coastal Communities), a relational database developed to collect, standardise, and analyse data related to hunter-fisher-gatherer (HFG) taskscapes across different geographical regions and chronological periods.
The database is structured around a find-oriented approach, linking material evidence to interpretative categories derived from socio-anthropological theory, such as taskscapes, tasks, and bodily techniques. The paper outlines the theoretical framework underpinning the database design, the conceptual and relational modelling process, and the tools and workflows adopted for data management and FAIR-compliant dissemination. Particular attention is given to the challenges posed by the variability of available sources and the heterogeneity of archaeological data, as well as to the methodological choices made to balance standardisation and interpretative flexibility.
NAUTICC is presented as a valuable research tool for large-scale, multi-regional and multi-period analysis, enabling the formulation of plausible archaeo-anthropological interpretations. It is currently being implemented on prehistoric coastal HFG communities in Brittany, southeastern Norway, and the Latvian coastal regions; however, its overall design remains flexible, allowing for potential future expansion to additional geographical areas and chronological periods.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[A Survey of Immersive Technologies in Cultural Heritage]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.274</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.274</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[In recent years, cultural heritage research has increasingly embraced digital innovation to address challenges related to preservation, accessibility and public engagement. Among the most promising approaches, immersive technologies, such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), have gained traction for their ability to transform how audiences experience and interact with history. This systematic mapping study provides a comprehensive overview of academic literature on the use of immersive technologies in serious games, digital storytelling and interactive applications centered on cultural heritage. The aim is to clarify current practices, identify knowledge gaps and guide future interdisciplinary collaboration across game studies, digital humanities and cultural institutions. The systematic literature review (SLR) of peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 in Scopus and Web of Science was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Findings reveal three dominant areas of application: education, historical preservation and public engagement. The study contributes by offering a structured synthesis of trends, challenges and opportunities, demonstrating how immersive technologies, particularly when combined with AI, can foster inclusive, engaging and sustainable cultural heritage experiences for diverse audiences.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Backbone Extraction in Archaeological Similarity Networks: Methodology and a Ceramic Case Study from the Amuq Valley]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.281</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.281</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This study examines backbone extraction not simply as a filtering technique, but as a diagnostic tool to assess the interpretability of archaeological similarity networks. Using a ceramic dataset from the Amuq Valley during the Bronze Age, we evaluate two backbone extraction methods – the Global Statistical Significance (GloSS) filter and the Disparity Filter – in the context of worst-case conditions: limited typological diversity, cumulative survey data, and extensive chronological overlap. In doing so, the paper introduces backbone extraction to archaeological network research as a formal test of relational selectivity, and asks under what data conditions such selectivity can be statistically recovered.
Application of the Global Statistical Significance (GloSS) filter produces a null result, indicating that the dense similarity structure is statistically indistinguishable from a randomised null model. The Disparity Filter likewise retains no statistically significant relations: the only edge that survives the procedure links the two sites sharing a rare ceramic class (White Slipped Ware), but it arises from a pair of degree-one nodes — a configuration outside the filter’s domain of applicability rather than a selective tie. Both global and local filters therefore converge on an empty backbone. This convergence is itself informative: the GloSS filter asks whether edges are unusual relative to the entire network, while the Disparity Filter asks whether they are unusual relative to a node’s local neighbourhood, neither recovers selective structure once the redundancy of the underlying data is taken into account.
Rather than constituting methodological failure, such negative or minimal results offer the empirical boundaries of relational inference from similarity data. We argue that backbone extraction should be understood as a diagnostic framework that exposes the limits of relational inference, rather than a universally applicable method for network simplification. The approach offers archaeologists a principled safeguard against over-interpreting dense similarity networks, and a transferable criterion for distinguishing genuine relational selectivity from background cultural diffusion.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Remake/Remodel: Topic Modelling to examine shifting Archaeological Heritage Discourse]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.210</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.210</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Archaeological heritage discourse produced within the academic context helps to shape and support decision-making capacities in managing, conserving, and disseminating archaeological heritage landscapes for consumption. Whether the result is additional research or reshaping these sites and landscapes within a public gaze, texts within the academic record give insight into the factors effecting the trajectory of research. This article aims to highlight the benefits of applying the Topic Modelling approach the trace shifts in archaeological heritage discourse within academic literature. Specifically, analyzing the Stonehenge monument and landscape to evaluate the evolutions in the direction of narratives assigned to aspects of the preserved past and the resulting types of value and significance attributed. Considering how archaeological heritage landscapes are altered within academic literature over time and the subsequent impact these shifts have. Quantitative textual analysis techniques, like Topic Modelling, are valuable tools that can assist in detecting the presence of deviations in the narratives, values, and meanings ascribed to surviving archaeological heritage. Results showcase the benefits of applying the tool within this context as well as the evolution of how academics discuss the various iterations of the Stonehenge monument and landscape.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Many Paths Lead Through the Bog: Reconstructing Prehistoric Networks and Routes at the Southern North Sea Coast Based on Neolithic and Bronze Age Grave Mounds]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.226</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.226</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 18 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[In archaeology, communication and trade networks are of great importance. They provide the foundation of understanding cultural and social interactions of past societies. Landmarks connecting pathways play an essential role. One approach to reconstructing prehistoric paths is based on the assumption that partially linear constructed burial mounds of the End Neolithic and Bronze Age could have been used as markers for paths. In the following article a reconstruction of an interaction and path network will be attempted for the northern Elbe-Weser-Triangle, exemplary for the geography of the southern and eastern North Sea coastline.
The reconstruction will be done based on current archaeological data and by applying network models. This work investigates whether plausible communication routes can be reconstructed and how such reconstructions can provide insight into broader questions of continuity, mobility, and land use from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age.
In a first step, the path networks will be reconstructed, and also the importance of the paths within the network will be evaluated. As a next step, archaeological sites such as bog trackways and settlements will be compared with the reconstructed paths. Furthermore, the importance of the landscape and the development of peatland and coastal marshland shall be included and compared with the path network. To assess its continuity, the End Neolithic/Bronze Age path network will be correlated with sites of other periods. To elevate the importance of the results for archaeological research, it will be observed if any paths cross peatland at potential fords to give a hint to important positions of the former communication network.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[The CHIPS Database: A Repository for Chemical Data in Archaeometallurgy of Iron]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.324</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.324</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Archaeometallurgists interested in iron do not currently have access to extensive chemical reference data repositories. Yet chemical data is of crucial importance both for reconstructing ancient technical systems and socio-economic structures, by determining the operating conditions and the exchange networks. We are seeking to meet this need with the CHIPS database, developed on PostgreSQL. The goal is to provide the scientific community with global reference data in a standardised format. Chemical data can be selected using spatial, chronological or typological queries, thanks to the documentation of archaeological contexts and samples. Particular care has been taken to assess the quality of the chemical data, based on analytical metadata (types of analysis and technical characteristics of the analysers). In order to guarantee the interoperability of the database, the main tables are referenced by libraries, gazetteers and thesauri that are considered as standards by the archaeological community. The data can currently be consulted using a cartographic interface, and the development of a more advanced interface is envisaged, based on the implementation of graphic display tools for chemical data.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[From Points to Pixels – a Comparison of Structured Light, Photogrammetry, and Low-Cost Lidar Approaches in Archaeological Excavation]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.245</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.245</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This study aims to compare three different 3D recording technologies—structured light scanning (Artec Leo), photogrammetry (Nikon D5300/Agisoft Metashape), and low-cost LiDAR (iPhone with PolyCam)—in the context of archaeological excavation documentation. The focus has been on evaluating their relative performance in terms of geometry, texture quality, usability, and applicability in field settings. The research was conducted at the archaeological site of Halos (Greece) as part of the Halos Archaeological Project, where a representative excavation profile was selected for analysis. Data was captured using all three technologies in close temporal sequence to ensure consistent conditions. A comparative analysis of these technologies was conducted, focusing on several critical dimensions. Specifically, it evaluated the requisite level of expertise for effective utilization, the practical applications with particular attention to ergonomic considerations, the processing time involved, and the precision and accuracy of the data produced. This evaluation encompassed both geometric reliability and the quality of texture representation. Results indicate that while all three methods produce geometrically sound models, photogrammetry outperformed the others in texture quality and overall data fidelity. The Artec Leo exhibited challenges with color accuracy under outdoor conditions, while the iPhone LiDAR showed promise due to its low cost, ease of use, and reasonable geometric accuracy, despite potential concerns regarding data transparency and long-term sustainability. The study highlighted that photogrammetry requires more expertise in the field and processing time, which may not be feasible for all projects. This comparative analysis contributes to the discourse on digital workflows in archaeology, emphasizing the importance of selecting appropriate technologies based on project-specific needs, resources, and the nature of the excavation. The findings advocate for further evaluations of these technologies across diverse contexts to enhance understanding of their capabilities and limitations in archaeological applications.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Evaluating Livestock Culling Practices Using Population Projection Models in Neolithic Dalmatia]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.257</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.257</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Mortality profiles derived from age-at-death estimates of archaeological animal remains reveal the outcomes of prehistoric herders slaughtering decisions. Survivorship curves from these data are often interpreted as evidence for herd management strategies optimized for meat, milk, or wool production. Spatial and temporal comparisons can illuminate variation and development in agropastoral economies, but these profiles also carry assumptions. High juvenile mortality, for instance, may compromise long-term herd viability, while interpreting survivorship as a reflection of constant offtake rates across generations can oversimplify pastoral dynamics. This study addresses these issues by modeling sheep and goat herd demography with a stage-structured Lefkovitch projection model. Culling strategies derived from Neolithic Dalmatian sites, informed by caprine age-at-death data, serve as primary constraints on herd growth. By optimizing offtake rates, the simulations evaluate how herders might have adjusted their practices to maintain herd stability amid environmental and subsistence stresses. Results show that sheep herds were generally more sustainable than goat herds, highlighting the demographic impact of differing culling regimes. The findings underscore the adaptive nature of prehistoric herd management and the importance of flexible strategies for mitigating risk and ensuring long-term sustainability.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[GIS-Based Throwshed Analysis for Conflict Archaeology]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.217</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.217</guid>
            <pubDate>Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[In conflict archaeology, KOCOA—an acronym for Key terrain, Observation and fields of fire, Concealment and cover, Obstacles and Avenues of approach—is a widely used methodology for battlefield terrain analysis. Its field of fire and cover aspects are usually identified by visibility analysis and the superimposition of shooting ranges is derived from firing tables to define a simple perimeter. In reality, shooting range varies, especially in terrain with high elevation differences. Additionally, projectiles may still impact areas rendered invisible by complex terrain or anthropogenic obstructions. Therefore, we here present a ‘throwshed’ analysis approach, which delineates the areas reachable by projectiles shot from any given place while respecting the complex terrain or surface in the form of a digital elevation model and applying the physical laws of external ballistics. The main aim of this paper is to demonstrate the classical shooting range approach within KOCOA and to resolve it by throwshed analysis. Moreover, this work aims to present the functionalities of the developed tool in diverse use cases by modifying the settings to demonstrate the innovative potential of the analysis within the KOCOA methodology. The physical model is validated with current, historical, and archaeological data. The validation and demonstration of the throwshed tool indicate that it corrects significant issues in the classical handling of fields of fire and cover within the KOCOA analysis. The throwshed tool is an open-source Python package that is freely available on GitHub.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Decoding Archaeological Spaces: A Space Syntax Study of the Hellenistic Baths in Syracuse]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.197</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.197</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 08 May 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[The Baths of Syracuse (3rd century BC), located in the ancient city of Syracuse (modern Siracusa) in Sicily, Italy, are an important representative of Hellenistic public bath architecture. This study examines the spatial configuration of the Baths of Syracuse to identify architectural type and spatial hierarchy.
Comparative spatial analyses with other Hellenistic baths in Sicily and a Roman imperial bath situate the Syracuse baths within a broader archaeological research context.
This study integrates architectural design theory with space syntax methods and the Depthmap software (Turner 2001) to analyze the archaeological remains of the Syracuse baths, offering a quantitative and visual approach to understanding their spatial organization. By converting the bath spaces into Justified Plan Graphs (JPGs), this study applies three data models — connectivity, Integration, and Visibility Graph Analysis (VGA) — to examine the complex’s spatial configuration. This approach combines visual representation with quantitative analysis to evaluate the bath complex’s spatial organization.
Comparison of the case study demonstrates the value of space syntax as a quantitative tool for spatial analysis. The results contribute to discussions on the development of Mediterranean public bathing architecture from Greece to Rome.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Bridging the Gap: Using Mobile Augmented Reality to Reconnect Museum Artifacts at Lofotr Viking Museum in Norway with Their Original Contexts]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.229</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.229</guid>
            <pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Museums frequently display artefacts removed from the landscapes where they were found and used, weakening visitors’ ability to understand object–place relationships. This article investigates whether mobile augmented reality (AR) can help re-establish such relationships by re-placing museum objects within their archaeological contexts. At the Lofotr Viking Museum (Borg, Lofoten, Norway), a prototype mobile AR application was developed that anchors full-scale reconstructions to the original settlement footprint and embeds selected museum artefacts as interactive 3D objects within these reconstructed environments.
The prototype was refined through an iterative design cycle and evaluated in two in-situ test rounds (N = 31; January 2025 and September 2025) using short post-use surveys and go-along observation. The evaluation focuses on (1) usability and interaction clarity, and (2) object–place comprehension in a hybrid setting where physical reconstructions, archaeological absence, and digital overlays coexist.
The results show that mobile AR can enhance visitors’ understanding of artefacts’ original spatial relations, but that spatial placement alone is not enough. Understanding improved when explicit narrative cues, especially audio prompts, clearly connected digital objects to their counterparts in the indoor exhibition. At the same time, minor tracking drift and ambiguous visual similarity between physical and digital structures produced disproportionate confusion in areas where reconstructions and overlays competed for attention.
It is argued that successful heritage AR in hybrid museum landscapes depends less on the novelty of digital reconstructions than on careful coordination of narrative guidance, visual differentiation, and spatial anchoring. The study contributes empirical evidence on where object–place understanding breaks down in real-world use and proposes design strategies for reducing interpretive ambiguity.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Press Play to Enter: Serious Gaming and the Body at the Asklepieion of Kos]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.287</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.287</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This paper examines the potential of using game engines and virtual reality devices to study the 2nd century BC Koan Asklepieion during festivals. Building on earlier visualisations and functional hypotheses, the study explores how digital environments enriched with moving human and animal bodies can facilitate a praxeological analysis of the built space. It discusses the feasibility of processional routes via gates and staircases, and the suitability of different areas within the Asklepieion for sacrifice, gathering, and observation by humans and animals. It also explores how physical features, such as steep slopes and looming retaining walls, shaped the spatial experience, making them important for festival logistics too. By relating movement and perception rooted in the body to the material record, the study demonstrates that game engines can be employed to bridge the void left by the ephemeral presence of past participants. Ultimately, the paper discusses ways of using digital tools to study the social production of past built space.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Subsistence Strategies in Agent-Based Models of Foraging Hominins: State of the Art and Challenges]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.211</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.211</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Hominins lived for most of their history as foragers in complete dependence on plants and animals in their surroundings. Depending on the regions they occupied, the available resources may have differed greatly intra- and inter-annually while shifts in climate altered the available ecosystems over time. How hominins may have behaved under these conditions and adapted to new challenges is increasingly studied using agent-based models (ABMs), as they allow researchers to recreate different behavioural and environmental scenarios and test the consequences (i.e., home range size, viability of the group). The goal of this article is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on ABMs simulating hominin foraging behaviour and connected processes, highlighting key findings, methodologies and theoretical frameworks. Our analysis reveals several prominent trends in the application of ABMs focused on hominin foraging behaviour, including the use of optimal-foraging (OFT) or central-place foraging (CPF) approaches. Additionally, we identify common challenges faced by researchers, such as implementing suitable reactions of the hominins to varying environmental conditions without relying on CPF, the difficulties in implementing comprehensive interactions between foragers and how to observe and interpret the resulting behaviour. This paper underscores the importance of refining ABMs to better capture the complexity of subsistence strategies in foraging hominins. We propose future directions for research that could enhance model accuracy and applicability.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[The Digital Workflow of the Cultural Heritage Response Unit (CHRU)]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.233</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.233</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Natural disasters and intensive land use increasingly threaten archaeological and cultural heritage (ACH) sites. To address this, the German Archaeological Institute (DAI), with the Leibniz Centre for Archaeology (LEIZA) and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW), launched in 2021 the project KulturGutRetter (KGR), establishing a rapid-deployment Cultural Heritage Response Unit (CHRU) with the focus on safeguarding worldwide cultural heritage at risk after disasters. While the CHRU has not officially declared operational readiness yet, it was able to gain valuable experience during a national full-scale exercise and by participating in an EU MODEX (Module Exercise) in the Venice Lagoon (both in autumn 2024; e.g. Papa et al., 2025), which it has incorporated into its further development. Part of this experience also relates to the digital infrastructure, which CHRU relies on for efficient and uniform data collection during operations.
Before, during and after missions, the CHRU employs fully open-source, standardised workflows for the documentation and assessment of affected cultural heritage, spanning the entire disaster-response chain. Before teams are dispatched, a remote-sensing and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) support group compiles the latest satellite imagery, augments it with the in-house “KGR Finder” archaeological tool, and produces layered risk and damage maps. These datasets, packed together with a standard data model, are loaded to handheld devices running mobile GIS software for immediate field use. On site, CHRU team members record damage through structured digital forms and, when conditions allow, they conduct UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) photogrammetry, laser scanning and other 3D survey methods. Moveable artefacts are registered on the spot: each object receives a QR-coded ID-card, enabling real-time assessment and tracking.
A portable IT stack underpins this workflow. A mobile server hosts a PostgreSQL/PostGIS database, network-attached storage and synchronisation services, all accessible via an ad-hoc Wi-Fi or local cellular network. This lets teams consolidate data from multiple instruments instantly, secure it redundantly and keep every device in sync even in disconnected environments. After a mission, all remotely sensed and field data that are free of third-party restrictions are transferred to the host nation’s antiquities authorities as a structured package, then archived on DAI servers for future research and publication upon agreement. The field records also provide essential ground truth for refining satellite-based assessments.
This paper outlines the open-source technologies, data standards and practical lessons that make CHRU deployments globally scalable, rapid and resilient, thus offering a blueprint for safeguarding ACH under growing disaster pressure.
Highlights

A general overview of all the digital components of the CHRU is given
We illustrate the workflow of different components and how the data is gathered or recorded and further analysed
Data management infrastructure is described, including both software and hardware perspectives
The aim is to make a clear workflow of handling different datasets from the beginning to the end of a mission
]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Quantifying Inherited Uncertainty in Archaeological Legacy Data Using Fuzzy Logic Metrics: A Reference Framework and Two Case Studies]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.220</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.220</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This research addresses the imperfection in archaeological data — ambiguity, partiality, imprecision, and uncertainty — through a fuzzy logic-based framework to measure uncertainty in site chronologies and typologies. The framework integrates expert interpretation and applies fuzzy operators to quantify uncertainty, particularly in dating and typology, using trapezoidal functions for fuzzification. By introducing metrics like CDEG (Comprehensive Degree of Equivalence) and FEQ (Factor of Equivalence), the framework provides a replicable approach to assessing and managing uncertainty in legacy data. Case studies from San Blas and Santa María de Hito demonstrate the model’s adequacy in quantifying uncertainty at various stages of investigation, offering a more flexible classification and analysis of incomplete or uncertain archaeological data. This approach enhances the reliability of archaeological research and improves the management of data by providing clear, measurable metrics for uncertainty in both chronology and typology.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title><![CDATA[Correction: Lessons Learned: Creating Tutorials to Teach Agent-Based Modelling to Archaeologists]]></title>
            <link>https://reference-global.com/article/10.5334/jcaa.270</link>
            <guid isPermaLink="false">/article/10.5334/jcaa.270</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[This article details a correction to: Visser, R.M., Lambers, K., Aitchison, K., Jutte, A., Rocks-Macqueen, D., van der Knaap, L., Romanowska, I., Brughmans, T., Linssen, J. and Pažout, A. (2025) ‘Lessons Learned: Creating Tutorials to Teach Agent-Based Modelling to Archaeologists’, Journal of Computer Applications in Archaeology, 8(1), p. 354–367. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5334/jcaa.241.]]></description>
            <category>ARTICLE</category>
        </item>
    </channel>
</rss>