Collaborative Research: SPARC: Conducting Collaborative Research and Leveraging Resources to Advance Spatial Archaeometry

The Spatial Archaeometry Research Collaborations (SPARC) Program promotes the use of geospatial technologies in archaeological research. A suite of emerging technologies, including aerial and satellite imaging, large-array terrestrial geophysics, multi-sensor drone-based mapping, and 3D visualization are rapidly transforming how archaeologists discover, document, and interpret human activity. However, the high costs of instrumentation and software combined with the technical expertise these technologies require prevents widespread implementation of these methods. The SPARC program makes equipment, software, and experienced staff available to research projects through a competitive, peer-reviewed application process and plays an important role in advancing educational and outreach initiatives through classroom programming and instructional tutorials, in-person workshops at national conferences, open-access online webinars, and research residencies. Spatial archaeometry offers the ability to explore human activity in new ways, using methods and approaches that are non-invasive, non-destructive, and easily replicable, yet also produce robust insights not achievable through traditional modes of investigation. Moreover, the close collaboration of technical experts with archaeologists helps to facilitate technological and methodological innovation, as researchers work together to develop creative solutions to challenging problems in data collection and analysis. The frequently transformative results produced through SPARC-supported projects serve as the basis for longer-term investigations and ongoing collaborations. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.