Archeology and GIS

Concepts of spatial and landscape archaeologu have been accepted within Stepene archaeology for a decade. These concepts are based on the assumption that man, by his diverse activities, made a tremendous impact on the landscape as a whole. Therefore in the research of archaeological settlement patterns, the whole landscape should be observed and analgzed. Diverse techniques of archaeological survey for data collection were developed and theoretical concepts for interpretation of those data were adapted from geographg, but onlg by applying GIS technology were this concepts made accessible to ali archaeologists. Basic concepts for GIS applications were defined in the research project "The Genesis of the cultural landscape" at the Department of Archaeology of the University of Ljubljana. However, the Hvar Project, as the first archaeological čase study, played the crucial role in acceptance of GIS technology. The analyses were concentrated on the possibilities of GIS applications in archaeo logical analysis. The best results were achieved in definition of archaeological site territories, subsistence strategies, communications and trade analyses. Few regional čase studies were started this gear because it is to be expected that soon the majoritg of the GIS archaeological applications will be in protection and management of cultural heritage. Simultaneously the Institute for Archaeology at the Slovene Academy of Sciences and Art has started with the computerization of the site and monuments database which will be integrated into the state GIS