#epicfail? has open source in archaeology failed?
TRANSCRIPT
#epicfail? Has Open Source in archaeology failed? Francesca Anichini – MAPPA Lab, University of Pisa Gabriele Gattiglia – MAPPA Lab, University of Pisa
#epicfail? Has Open Source in archaeology failed?
And then one day you find ten years have got behind us…..
Introduction
#epicfail? Has Open Source in archaeology failed?
What does FOSS means?
#epicfail? Has Open Source in archaeology failed?
Global perspective
The impact of Open Source in archaeology has been surprisingly (?) limited, it have not been part of any radical development in how we conduct archaeology, and in the last years has suffered a loss of appeal among researchers and archaeologists.
#epicfail? Has Open Source in archaeology failed?
• the use of open source software should have overcome the limitations dictated by software currently used, leading the use of computer applications in archaeology to match with the goals, needs, and aspirations of archaeologists.
• Open Source has had the possibility to create computer application not simply derived from proprietary software, but applications create appositely by and for archaeologists.
• Open source has had the possibility to create a collaborative community.
This path was too often neglected. Why?
Potentially…..
#epicfail? Has Open Source in archaeology failed?
The first reason can be viewed in a poor theoretical approach. Open source is mainly a computer science issue, and in archaeology it was dealt more with a technical approach, than with a strong theoretical approach. There was an insufficient recognition of the fact that the intersection of computer application and archaeology can provide new paradigms and/or research venues. So the Open Source movement in archaeology was not able to propose new development, new forms of doing archaeology, that include new ways, and standards, of handling, processing and modeling information.
#epicfail? Has Open Source in archaeology failed?
Open Source in archaeology should have gone beyond the mere application of software, in fact, it should have represented an area where archaeologists should have focused on discussion about the nature of archaeological data, their definition, representation and manipulation. The Open Source movement was not able to create a wide community of practice, i.e. a group of people: • who share a profession, or has a common
interest in a particular domain, • who shares information and experiences that
the members learn from each other to develop themselves personally and professionally
#epicfail? Has Open Source in archaeology failed?
We can summarise the concept with the fact that the number of archaeologists that shares code is yet too small!!
#epicfail? Has Open Source in archaeology failed?
The second reason is connected to education and training: there is an absence of a proper academic curriculum. On the contrary, it’s necessary to give future archaeologists the possibility to reach a level of competency in computer science such as to enable them to generate novel insight. Only proper training can permit them to engage in the development of new IT tools consonant with archaeological interests, and to foster a deeper conceptual understanding of how applications work as a necessary step towards the creation of new ones. The full benefits of Open Source would only be possible if such preparation is in place for archaeologists to reap the benefits themselves.
#epicfail? Has Open Source in archaeology failed?
A third reason is the fact that too often has been emphasised the F for free. Open source has become economically advantageous for poorly funded archaeologist, but has not become a core element of archaeology.
#epicfail? Has Open Source in archaeology failed?
ArcheoFOSS seems on the point of losing this battle, just when a new nourishment, in form of a more theoretical approach, is coming from the introduction of open access and open data instances.
Will Open Data in Archaeology be the next #epicfail?
#epicfail? Has Open Source in archaeology failed?
Thank you
Gabriele Gattiglia [email protected]
@g_gattiglia http://pisa.academia.edu/GabrieleGattiglia
Francesca Anichini [email protected]
@FrAnichini https://pisa.academia.edu/FrancescaAnichini
Preserving Italian archaeological open data: the MOD solution.