Abstract

Computer data base management systems are becoming increasingly in vogue for archaeological research applications. Abundant literature exists pertaining to computer data base techniques in archaeology in particular describing coding schemes, data manipulation procedures and analytical software. However, to archaeologists proposing to adopt such systems much less information is available detailing the accompanying problems introduced to the process of 'doing archaeology'. Two examples of large-scale data base management systems used to analyze archaeological data from Batoche National Historic Site in Saskatchewan and the Lubbub Creek site in west-central Alabama are briefly compared. Emphasis is placed on key parts of the process prone to error resulting in user grief and the means of coping with them are discussed. It is proposed that the problem areas highlighted are likely to be encountered by researchers implementing such systems and can be avoided. Among the aspects to be addressed are sources, rates and effects of data base error; user behaviour; and the availability and suitability of software.