Information Systems in Archaeology : description, elaboration and analysis of the archaeological technology-task dialogue

This work faces a new approach to link two sectors that appear to be diametrically opposite: Archaeology and Information Systems. Since information systems are diffused transversally in different sectors it should make sense investigating in the so called "low-tech" areas. Particularly archaeology has been poorly studied under the information systems' perspective, even if the use of technologies (particularly in archaeological excavations) assumed a very important role. This research has three main goals: the first is to describe the archaeological excavation activities and information systems involved, the second is to link organisational theories to the archaeological field and the third is to test the validity of this linkage. The achievement of the objectives is realized by the implementation of Task-Technology-Fit model developed by Goodhue and Thompson in 1995. This model creates a good framework for a task analysis related to the excavations. The model adapted in this way has been tested by a statistical analysis conducted on the basis of answers to questionnaires submitted to a sample of 72 Italian archaeologists and technicians that performed excavation at least once.