Archaeologists have always embraced cutting-edge tools, from the emergence of photography in the 1800s, to radiocarbon dating, aerial photography, remote sensing, and computers throughout the 20th century, to online resources, mobile devices, and AI in the new millennium.
In fact, the Kelsey Museum has a long legacy of innovation and early adoption, furthering its goal of documenting, analyzing, and communicating about the ancient past. Our archives contain photographs and movies of U-M excavations from as early as the 1920s, and we even have some of the original cameras! On display in the Upjohn Wing, you can see watercolor reproductions from 1924 of an entire room in the Villa of the Mysteries at Pompeii—an early version of a virtual reality experience. More recently, Kelsey-sponsored research projects are continuing to develop new approaches to fieldwork, analysis, and publication, such as the Gabii Project’s award-winning, interactive digital book series. The Kelsey’s first full-time digital archaeologist, Dr. Chris Motz, joined the museum in 2024. The hiring of a permanent, dedicated staff member in this area marks a significant evolution in the Kelsey’s digital endeavors.
Digital archaeology at the Kelsey is inherently collaborative. We work closely with every department in the museum, from conservation to education to curators, to rethink what modern museum work and archaeological research can be. Together, we seek to leverage technology in responsible, informed, and sustainable ways that help us preserve the artifacts in our care, produce new knowledge, educate students, and share our discoveries with the global community.
As part of these goals, we are committed to training future generations of scholars. We host undergraduate and graduate students on a variety of projects, speak with university classes, and provide instruction and consultation in digital methods to researchers. Students and researchers who are interested in these topics are encouraged to reach out to our team.
