Main research question:

How can practices of (ancient and modern) tool use and knowledge production inform the design of robotic systems that augment rather than replace human labour?

Sub-Questions:

  • What forms of social structures, agency, and decision-making are embedded in tool use throughout human history?
  • How do archaeologists integrate, adapt, or reject technological tools within their research practices, and what does this reveal about expertise and knowledge production?
  • How can these insights inform the development of responsible robotic systems that augment rather than replace archaeological labour?

Therefore, the sequence establishes:
    • Long-term perspective: tools as social and cultural phenomena across human history.
    • Practice-based perspective: archaeologists as contemporary tool users and knowledge producers.
    • Design perspective: translating these insights into principles for responsible and ethical robotics.

AI-driven technologies are increasingly entering diverse domains of society, often without sufficient reflection on actual needs or the contexts in which they are deployed. Whether motivated by technological enthusiasm, profit growth, or innovation-driven competition, such approaches can result in ineffective applications and, in some cases, unintended negative consequences for the communities and practices they aim to support.

The investigators critically examine this technology-first approach and propose an ethnography-based methodology grounded in the practical needs of archaeology and centred on human agency. The project aims to contribute to responsible and ethical robotics by supporting the development of systems that meaningfully enhance professional practices while preserving the expertise and values.

The project advances scientific understanding of human–technology relationships by bringing archaeological perspectives into robotics research. By investigating how tools are integrated, adapted, or rejected within social practices, it explores potentially useful insights between technological innovation and knowledge production. The project establishes a framework for designing robotic systems that are sensitive to situated practices, relevant contexts, and forms of expertise

Fieldwork

The project conducts ethnographically informed research during archaeological campaigns to examine how robotic technologies can be integrated into archaeological practice. The PIs observe both the practical deployment of robotic systems and the ways in which archaeologists develop relationships with their established tools, methods, and forms of expertise. Particular attention is given to moments of tension, negotiation, adaptation, and compromise surrounding the introduction of emerging “anxiety-generating” technologies.

Workshop

The project organises a workshop bringing together researchers who critically engage with digital and computational archaeology. Hosted by the Netherlands Institute in Athens (https:⁠/⁠/nia.gr/en/), the workshop connects multiple archaeological traditions and perspectives to explore how technological developments are perceived, adopted, challenged, or transformed within the discipline. The workshop also aims to develop a roadmap for responsible robotics in archaeology by identifying key research priorities, opportunities, and potential pathways for future innovation.

Interviews and broader engagement

Building on the roadmap developed during the workshop, the project reaches out to a broader archaeological community to gather collective perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of robotic technologies. Through questionnaires and interviews, the team collects input, analyses shared concerns and expectations, and reports findings back to participants. This iterative process supports the development of automation systems aligned with professional practices and the needs of future generations of archaeologists.