The Digital Revolution in Archaeological Practice

In this paper, I focus on some of the important ways in which the digital revolution in archaeological practice has changed the way that we approach our analysis of the ancient world. I discuss the history of archaeological research and publication at three Italian sites – Pompeii, Morgantina (Sicily), and Tharros (Sardinia) – in order to consider how our research questions have changed over time. Ultimately, I argue that by prioritizing context in the analysis of artifacts and assemblages, we can come to a more nuanced interpretation of how everyday objects were used, discarded, and recycled in antiquity.