---
title: "Area of archaeological potential"
chunk: 2/2
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_of_archaeological_potential"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T15:06:35.680287+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

== Potential of digital archeology ==
Digital archaeology has been an integral component in recent years when determining which sites across the world hold archaeological potential. Digital advances have also shaped the world of archaeology, making excavations more efficient, effective, and purposeful. Following a successful season of field testing in 2011, the Tel Akko Total Archaeology Project (Akko, Israel) found that Agisoft's PhotoScan Pro-one became an extremely useful tool in creating accurate 3D images of archaeological sites, providing a new outlet for the dissemination of archaeological data. There are multiple examples of the way digital archaeology has positively affected the field of archaeology, with Pompeii being one of the most successful. As a historic site with millions of visitors each year, Pompeii and Herculaneum face conservation issues, yet with the use of 3D scanning, online visual representations of the site have been made available, decreasing the deterioration of the site. Estelle Laser, an Australian Archeologist, first used CT scans on plaster casts, which in turn have helped to gain a much clearer sense of the reality of the people who died, uncovering their age, gender, health, and other important features. Laser's work changed the story of Pompeii, dismembering the common notion that those who died at Pompeii were primarily women, children, and the elderly. Laser additionally undid the wrongdoings of Fiorelli and Spinazola.  This new information about the bodies found on the site has helped archaeologists to gain a deeper knowledge of the people of Vesuvius and their daily life.

== Political influences on archeological digs ==
Politics heavily influence archaeology and the sites that are deemed to have archaeological potential. Many countries have a rich history and idyllic conditions which all point towards archaeological potential, although politics hamper their uncovering both positively and negatively. In the case of Pompeii, politics in the early 20th century significantly damaged the site. Mussolini was in power when great excavations were taking place in Pompeii, and despite being the most productive period of excavations at the site, the damage these excavations caused was more detrimental to the site than positive. The excavations corresponded to the Fascist government of Mussolini, which exploited the potential of Italy's past to ‘create a model for a new imperialist Italy’. Despite his wide-ranging excavations, by the time Mussolini was forced out of the office, 26 hectares of the total 66 were not excavated, and further, by the late 50s and early 60s, Pompeii was in a state of disrepair. In some circumstances, politics help archaeological digs take place. For example, in Egypt, a large amount of money is given each year to help preserve the historical monuments, as they create a large influx of tourism and therefore money. Tourism in Egypt is one of the leading sources of income for the country with US$12.57 billion produced in 2019/2018. The political agenda in Egypt has recently changed as politicians realised the importance of these monuments to not only the world but the economy. Although, in many cases, countries with high archaeological potential do not have enough money to uncover monuments and keep them in good condition.

== References ==