Development of an Object-Oriented GIS for Maritime Archaeology - Motivation, Implementation and Results

The current use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in maritime archaeology often emphasise their analytical capabilities however another major strength is their ability to integrate and manage large and diverse data sets. A GIS can therefore be used as a tool to aid the recording and preservation of cultural heritage sites by collecting together and presenting site information in an integrated and meaningful way. This paper describes the creation of a custom GIS with an object-oriented data model designed specifically for use in marine and intertidal archaeology projects. Development to date has concentrated on real-time spatial data collection, decision support, publication and archiving. An example is given showing the use of this GIS during the excavation of the Mary Rose in 2003 by the Mary Rose Trust. This paper identifies some of the benefits of applying an integrated digital data management system to these archaeological projects and identifies areas for further research.