SASSA: an open source, Wiki soil based knowledge and decision support tool for archaeologists

Soils are an integral part of our cultural record and the importance of studying soils and sediments on archaeological sites in well established. However, many field archaeologists have had minimal or zero training in soil science and as a result feel overwhelmed by the specialist terminology and the complexity of the very medium that provides context to the archaeological artefacts and structures. SASSA (Soil Analysis Support System for Archaeologists) is a web-based knowledge base and decision support system that is designed for use both in the office as a reference and training tool, and also in the field, using a laptop or smart phone, to aid the description, sampling and interpretation of soils on-site. The architecture of SASSA, particularly with respect to the in-field support of students, provides a framework for other soil-education initiatives. The mobile technology and decision support tools of SASSA are also being explored as a possible basis for emergency response systems.