Robust. Reproducible. Refreshing.

In 2022, we released a Journal of Archaeological Science paper describing SourceXplorer, which is used for all sourcing-related projects at GeoArchaeo.

SourceXplorer allows researchers to apply sophisticated statistical procedures that generate robust, conservative, and reproducible interpretations of relationships between sources and unknowns using any type of numerical data.

First developed for using trace element concentrations during archaeological lithic sourcing studies, we are continuously discovering new and unique applications for our open-source guided user interface built using Shiny in the R Programming Environment.

SourceXplorer is free, transparent, and malleable. Visit www.sourcexplorer.org, where you can find the most recent versions of the application, as well as interact with us, the developers, for any tips you may need along the way.

Note that no sourcing outcomes are absolute, especially when determined using indirect proxies. Confidence in such results is always only as good as the models used to produce them (e.g., we strongly do not recommend averaging your baseline data to reduce variance in your source models).

Additionally, data collected by different analytical techniques and instruments can readily be used in SourceXplorer, as long as adequate and consistent QA/QC and calibration protocols are followed (i.e., there is no need for all inputted data to be measured with the same analytical instrument if the data is reliable).

You can check out a deployed version of the app online for free at:

https://sourcexplorer.shinyapps.io/SourceXplorer

Or, to learn more about the app or use it locally, visit the SourceXplorer website at www.sourcexplorer.org and check out our recent publication:

McMillan, R., Waber, N., Ritchie, M., Frahm, E. 2022. Introducing SourceXplorer, an open-source statistical tool for guided lithic sourcing. Journal of Archaeological Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2022.105626