OverviewDaily data collection during archaeological fieldwork forms the basis for later interpretation and analysis. Across the world, we observe a wide variety of digital data collection methods and tools employed during fieldwork. Here, we detail the daily practices at four recent survey and excavation projects in the South Caucasian country of Armenia. As archaeology continues to become ever more digital, it is useful to consider these day-to-day recording processes at a typical field project. We provide details on both the types of data collected and the ways they are collected so as to foreground these topics. Finally, we reflect on how our work is currently impacted by digital changes and how it may continue to change in the future.

The area encompassing the modern Republic of Armenia lies within the Armenian highlands and is situated at the very core of a dynamic corridor between Africa and Eurasia. As such, Armenia proves critical for understanding the initial stages of human settlement and the formation of ancient civilisations in the Near East and beyond. Stone Age artefacts have been known to exist within the territory of Armenia since the end of the 19th century, and they indicate that the area attracted a variety of Stone Age populations, from early hominids to early complex societies of the Chalcolithic. Presented work is the first attempt to summarise the results and achievements of the Stone Age archaeology in Armenia which is counting its history more than a century.

The Vayots Dzor Project (VDP) is an Armenian-Italian archaeological research project involving both survey and excavation activities, conducted in accordance with an agreement between IAE NAS RA (Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography NAS RA) and ISMEO-International Association of Mediterranean and Oriental Studies, co-funded by IAE NAS RA, Gfoeller Renaissance Foundation of USA, ISMEO and MAECI (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation). The work is carried out in cooperation with the Yeghegnadzor Regional Museum. The project started in summer 2016, after a preliminary visit to the region – renowned for its vineyards and high-quality wine production – in 2015, with a view to its archaeological exploration. It is particularly focused on the investigation of the area surrounding the valleys of the River Arpa and its tributaries.