Reflections on 30 years of digital archaeology: Where do we go from here? (Michael Ashley)
Speaker: Michael Ashley, Codifi, LLC About: Over the past three decades, archaeology has experienced a paradigm shift with the integration of digital recording and publishing methodologies. We’ll discuss whether we have remained true to the core principles of archaeological ethics in our pursuit of technological advancements. We’ll unravel the journey from a digitally-focused archaeological approach to a more holistic practice. As we strategize for the upcoming 30 years, the emphasis is placed on the dual objectives of the discipline: ensuring the creation of a durable archaeological record that stands the test of time, while simultaneously harnessing the full potential of modern technology. This discussion serves as a clarion call, urging us to reflect, adapt, and innovate for a sustainable future in archaeology.
About the Speaker: Michael is an alumnus at Cal, completing his BA in 1994 and PhD in 2004, both in this department. His advisors were Ruth Tringham, Meg Conkey, and Rosemary Joyce. He conducted his PhD research at CatalHoyuk, where he was the Media Team Lead for seven years. His PhD explored vision in archaeology, and how shelters, glasses, glare, and field conditions impact outcomes and interpretations. His academic journey at Cal laid the foundation for his future digital adventures. In 2010, with the collaboration of Meg Conkey and Ruth Tringham, Michael was fortunate to be a part of the team that founded the Center for Digital Archaeology (CoDA) at Cal. This non-profit aimed to make archaeological and cultural data more accessible through training and teaming grants. Among the projects the team worked on was Mukurtu, an open-source platform that seeks to honor and preserve Indigenous digital heritage. In 2014, he co-founded Codifi, a software company dedicated to digital fieldwork for archaeology. Codifi was acquired by the CRM firm PaleoWest in 2019. PaleoWest, now Chronicle Heritage received private equity investment in 2021, and last year, Codifi became a separate subsidiary. Michael remains grateful for the opportunities to contribute to the field of archaeology and cherishes the collaborations and experiences that have shaped his journey. Go Bears!