ArchMatrix : a visual interactive system for graph-based knowledge exploration in archaeology

This paper presents the design and development of ArchMatrix, a visual interactive system that supports archaeologists in archiving, managing and studying the findings collected during archaeological excavations. This work allowed to deepen the study of participatory design in interdisciplinary communities and was carried out by computer scientists in close collaboration with archaeologists. To overcome the several issues that characterize the communication among different domain experts, participatory design's principles have been applied. The ArchMatrix system implements the Harris Matrix method, used both in archaeology and in architecture to describe the position (absolute and relative) of stratigraphic units. ArchMatrix relies on a graph database that enables to apply advanced information retrieval strategies. In this way, archaeologists are supported in developing new opportunities for investigation to increase their knowledge, improve their traditional working practices and to develop new ones.