# iDig - Recording Archaeology — A Digital Excavation Notebook

> Digital field notebook for archaeological excavation data recording and management. (iPhone/iPad app by Bruce Hartzler.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idig-recording-archaeology/id953353960 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Bruce Hartzler](https://appshunter.io/developer/953353959)
- Category: Productivity, Education
- Price: Free
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 9.3 · 26 MB
- Languages: English, French, German, Greek, Italian
- Released: 2015-01-08
- Data updated: 2026-06-11
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idig-recording-archaeology/id953353960/reviews.md

## What is iDig?

iDig is a tool for archaeologists. It has been developed and field-tested at the Athenian Agora Excavations of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (https://www.ascsa.edu.gr/excavations/athenian-agora).

Other excavations and institutes collaborating in the development of iDig include: American/Greek excavations at the Ismenion sanctuary (Thebes), Corinth Excavations, Belgian/Dutch fieldwork at Thorikos, British excavations at Keros, the Casa della Regina Carolina (CRC) Project at Pompeii, the Eastern Boeotia Archaeological Project at Eleon, the Greek underwater survey in the Argo-Saronic Gulf, the Lechaion Harbor and Settlement Land Project, the Molyvoti (Thrace) Archaeological Project, the Packard Humanities Institute, the Teos Excavation Project of Ankara University, Swiss excavations at Eretria and Amarynthos (Euboia), and the Northwest Bolsena Archaeological Project at Valle Gianni.

iDig is designed to produce digital records in the field and is heavily optimized for excavation workflows.

iDig connects wirelessly to Leica Total Stations and keeps excavation data in sync on multiple iPads, streamlining collaboration during the excavation process.

Using animation, an excavator can see and track data from different perspectives: top plan, cross section, and spatial and temporal matrix layouts.

Scanned drawings and plans can be quickly imported and georeferenced right in the app. 

Custom fields can be added and excavation records from previous seasons can be imported and connected to the current work for real-time data integration. 

Excavation data can be exported in standard formats from the built-in web server and reports can be saved incrementally using simple URL bookmarks.

An external “iDig Server” application can be used to synchronize and version all excavation data into a standard GIT repository (https://github.com/iDig-Recording-Archaeology/idig-server).

The version of iDig released here contains unpublished data from two trenches excavated in 2013. The formal study of this data will be published in Hesperia, the official journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (https://www.ascsa.edu.gr/publications/hesperia).

## Key features

- Digital field recording
- Wireless connection to total stations
- Data synchronization across multiple iPads
- 3D data visualization
- Import and georeference scanned drawings
- Customizable fields
- Export data in standard formats


## Frequently asked questions about iDig

### What is iDig used for?

iDig is a specialized tool for archaeologists to create digital records directly from excavation sites. It helps streamline data collection, synchronize information across devices, and visualize excavation data from various perspectives.

### Can iDig connect to excavation equipment?

Yes, iDig can connect wirelessly to Leica Total Stations, allowing for direct data transfer and synchronization during excavations.

### How does iDig help with data visualization?

iDig allows excavators to view and track data from different perspectives, including top plan, cross-section, and spatial and temporal matrix layouts, using animation.

### Can I import existing plans into iDig?

Yes, scanned drawings and plans can be quickly imported and georeferenced directly within the iDig application.

### Does iDig support collaboration among team members?

Yes, iDig is designed to keep excavation data in sync on multiple iPads, which significantly streamlines collaboration during the excavation process.

### Can I add custom data fields in iDig?

Absolutely. iDig allows users to add custom fields and import excavation records from previous seasons, connecting them to current work for real-time data integration.

### What are the export options for data collected with iDig?

Excavation data can be exported in standard formats from the built-in web server. Reports can also be saved incrementally using simple URL bookmarks.

### Is iDig available on multiple platforms?

Based on the supported devices, iDig is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod, making it accessible for field use on Apple mobile devices.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 16 — 2024-03-28

- Added preferences file selector
- Added the ability to lock trenches
- Camp and Talcott pencils search local trenches
- Updated localization languages

### 15 — 2022-08-02

- Added support for iPhone
- Added support for iDig Server (iOS 15 or higher)
- Added "Create Plan..." feature to make creating new plans from satellite maps easy.

### 12 — 2021-12-16

Updated for iOS 15

### 11 — 2020-01-31

Updated for iOS 13

### 10.0 — 2018-08-03

- Fix scrolling issue when there are many types
- Fix peer selector row sizes

## Apps similar to iDig

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [vSite Scan](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vsite-scan/id6446096649) | — | Free | Productivity |
| [Total Station File Transfer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/total-station-file-transfer/id1494244132) | 4.5 (2) | Free | Productivity |
| [GEO5 Data Collector](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/geo5-data-collector/id6446826835) | 5.0 (1) | Free | Productivity |
| [Finds](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/finds/id931641768) | 3.8 (6) | $2.99 | Productivity |
| [Mapboard GIS](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapboard-gis/id1446188315) | 4.5 (2) | Free | Productivity |
| [Wildnote](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wildnote/id1077219625) | 4.0 (3) | Free | Productivity |

## More apps by Bruce Hartzler

- [Agora Notebooks](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/agora-notebooks/id1244689772)
- [Sisiban](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sisiban/id6466513805)

All apps by Bruce Hartzler: https://appshunter.io/developer/953353959

## Related topics

[current archaeology](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/current-archaeology) · [idig](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/idig) · [anpieklitho](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/anpieklitho) · [archaeology](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/archaeology)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-11.*