About — Excavata

What is Excavata?

Excavata is a comprehensive archaeological recording application that spans the full lifecycle of excavation data — from initial field recording through lab processing to final publication. It replaces paper forms, disconnected spreadsheets, and fragmented workflows with a single, integrated system that works on mobile devices in the field and desktop computers in the lab.

The app is designed around the real needs of working archaeologists. Every feature exists because someone needed it on a dig site, in a finds lab, or while writing up a report. Excavata is designed by archaeologists — for archaeologists.

Supported Excavation Methodologies

Arbitrary Excavation

Record using defined spit levels and arbitrary units. Ideal for sites where natural stratigraphy is difficult to distinguish or where standardised depth increments are preferred.

Stratigraphic Excavation

Full support for single-context recording with stratigraphic relationships. Record contexts, define relationships (above, below, equal to), and generate Harris Matrices automatically.

Surface Survey

Structured collection and recording for surface survey projects. Define collection units, transects, and record surface finds with GPS coordinates.

Who Uses Excavata?

Excavata is designed for anyone involved in archaeological fieldwork and post-excavation analysis:

●Field archaeologists — record data on phones and tablets while excavating
●Field teams and supervisors — coordinate recording across multiple trenches and team members
●Lab staff — process finds in bulk with desktop tools
●Universities and students — learn digital recording methods on real projects
●Project directors — oversee data quality and generate reports

Technology

Excavata is built with a focus on reliability, portability, and independence from cloud infrastructure.

Cross-Platform Offline-First Local Sync No Cloud Required Open Data Formats

All data is stored locally on your devices. Synchronisation happens directly between devices on the same network — no internet connection or third-party cloud service is needed. Your excavation data stays under your control at all times.

Excavata runs natively on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows, providing a consistent experience whether you're standing at a trench edge with a phone or sitting at a desk with a monitor.

About Excavata