مخطط مقترح لقاعدة بيانات جغرافية لتسجيل و أرشفة المعلومات الأثرية

Abstract EN

This study addresses a vital subject in the use of Geodatabase and GIS programs in Archaeology, which is one of the spatial sciences and field activities.

However, current local practices in the field of Archaeology still rely on traditional methods for data collection, management and storage.

Furthermore, the problem has become increasingly more difficult due to increasingly multiple data inputs, formats and outputs leading to fragmented pieces and somewhat unrelated (sometimes-duplicate) information.

As such, a lot of data processing, query tasks, analysis and measurement become difficult for both specialists and those interested in Archeology.

It is therefore necessary to utilize the GIS capabilities for such tasks.

To this end, the present study proposes a solution in the form of Geo-Database schema (model) that considers typical Archaeological various data tasks.

The proposed model was built according to the three standard database design steps; namely, the conceptual model, logical model and physical model, and all based on local users' needs who are specialists in the field.

The model was undergone extensive work steps including testing the database schema through real data which is for the Khariba archaeological site area in Al-Ula governorate, Saudi Arabia.

The testing process showed that the data schema was fully functional and suitable to use.

The proposed model might be subject to further tests preferably using more data and larger areas.

The study recommends further studies specifically in the field of archaeological data elements codes/ classification and indexing at the local level, as this would contribute to producing a unified data dictionary especially for building enterprise reliable archaeological databases.