The DistoX2: A methodological solution to archaeological mapping in poorly accessible environments

Spatial information is crucial to archaeological field research. From the plane-table total station, recent technological advances have enabled data collection become fully digital and highly accurate. Nevertheless, expansion of expeditions novel environments often incompatible with modern mapping equipment, e.g. tropical forests or ephemeral shorelines, calls for further methodological innovations. Such projects, as well those under logistic financial limitations, are still largely reliant on more time consuming, less accurate, traditional approaches, offset tape compass methods. The DistoX2 a digital, portable, versatile hand-held instrument originally developed speleological surveys where stations DGPSs not feasible. However, potential system spatial tool in above-ground contexts has been surprisingly overlooked. Here, we present first assessment applicability non-speleological environments. We investigate precision accuracy controlled settings relative two common methods – compass. test when mounted tripod operated mode discuss its applicability, combined used, context other increasingly popular GNSS SfM photogrammetry. With mean error ≈5.00 cm horizontal readings ≈2.00 vertical readings, considerably accurate than method (µ ≈ 67.00 horizontal; µ 3.00 vertical). While exceeds thresholds projects that require high sensitivity (e.g. Palaeolithic excavations), it provides reliable, low-cost alternative many resort This fills an existent gap amongst growing diversity expeditions.