The digital (within) archaeology. Analysis of a phenomenon

The digital approach to the study of archaeology currently appears to be the most important research trend in this field. However, it is still unclear what exactly Digital Archaeology is, and it is perceived and practiced differently in the European and American academic communities. Essentially the application of certain computer science methods to address archaeological research questions, Digital Archaeology is at times considered a discipline, a field, a branch of a discipline; adding to the confusion, it is often defined with other terms, such as Virtual Archaeology, CyberArchaeology, Archaeological Computing. The aim of this article is to analyze such phenomenon since its emergence, compare the standpoints of the most influential scholars who have contributed to it, define the role of Digital Archaeology with respect to Digital Humanities and Archaeological Science, and to offer a case study of best practices in Digital Archaeology through the experience of the University of South Florida’s Institute for Digital Exploration (IDEx).