Context sheets shouldn't require double entry
Record contexts, track stratigraphy, manage finds and samples, and build your Harris Matrix \u2014 all captured once in the field with GPS and photos. No paper, no re-entry.
Built for excavation recording
Context sheets, stratigraphic relationships, finds and sample registers \u2014 the tools you actually use on site, not a generic data collection app.
Context Recording
Digital context sheets with auto-numbering, soil descriptions, inclusions, formation process, and interpretation. Identical structure to your paper forms — without the paper.
Harris Matrix Viewer
Your stratigraphic relationships rendered as an interactive diagram. Cycle detection catches contradictions. Zoom, pan, and click through to individual context records.
Finds Register
Auto-numbered finds with material, type, period, condition, and context association. Bulk entry for high-volume excavations. Export as a formatted register table.
Sample Register
Track soil, charcoal, pollen, and specialist samples from excavation through lab processing. Sample number, context, type, storage location, and processing status.
Stratigraphic Validation
Define above/below, cuts, cut-by, fills, filled-by relationships. TerraSitu validates that your stratigraphy is internally consistent — contradictions are flagged immediately.
Photo Board Overlay
Camera overlay with site code, context number, date, direction, and scale bar — burned directly into the image. No post-processing. Meets excavation photo standards.
Context Boundary Mapping
Plot context boundaries directly on the survey map alongside your GIS layers. Click a context on the map to open its record.
GPS & Spatial Data
Every record is GPS-tagged. Export context boundaries, finds locations, and trench outlines as GeoJSON or Shapefile for your GIS.
Printable Registers
Generate formatted context, finds, and sample register tables for your site archive. PDF or CSV export.
Record it once, in the trench
Context sheets, Harris Matrix, and finds registers \u2014 captured digitally at the point of excavation. Start your free trial.
Common questions
Can I replicate my existing paper context sheet?
Yes. Duplicate a built-in template and modify fields to match your recording system. Or use ours — it follows standard British/Australian excavation methodology.
How does the Harris Matrix handle complex stratigraphy?
Relationships are entered as you record each context. TerraSitu renders the matrix automatically, validates for cycles and contradictions, and updates in real time as new contexts are added.
Can I export to my desktop GIS?
Yes. Export context boundaries, finds locations, and trench outlines as GeoJSON, Shapefile, or KML. The data includes all attributes, so you can style by period, type, or any recorded field.