Comparative analysis of archaeological websites

Introduction:

Databases:

• Database designed to incorporate different excavations. The idea is to create a place/platform for multiple projects and types of data. This project developed the ArchaeoML language.
  

• OCHRE theoretical approach: Sub-page of OCHRE project explaining their theory of data integration. I highlighted some portions that I think are important.
  
• "A major purpose of OCHRE is to facilitate data integration, both within a single project and among different projects. Integration within a project is accomplished by linking different kinds of data; for example, by interconnecting the many hundreds or thousands of plans, photographs, and artifact descriptions produced by an archaeological project so that a researcher can easily move among related pieces of information; or by cross-referencing texts, dictionary entries, and grammatical descriptions in a philological project. The OCHRE software is designed to make this easy to do. Once they have been linked, related items can be easily retrieved and displayed together, facilitating further research."
  
• "OCHRE does not impose a standardized terminology. Instead, it provides a core ontology within which each project's terminology can be expressed."
  

• About Open Context: Uses and Applications: http://opencontext.org/about/uses
• Open Context is primarily aimed at the dissemination of primary field data and documentation. While the system in itself is not a long-term archive for such data, Open Context does help prepare datasets for greater longevity.
• About Open Context: Key Concepts: http://opencontext.org/about/concepts
  
• Uses the AchaeoML as language,"AchaeoML uses an item-based information model, where individual atomic units of observation are related to each other and their descriptive attributes. Each item does not belong to a predetermined class (pottery, bone, deposit, grave good, etc.), but is, instead, an abstract entity that can have multiple descriptive properties and different forms of linking relations with other items."
  

• Repository for different kinds of archaeological data.

• Database portion of Çatal website.
  
• Çatal Höyük Research Project: On-line Database Facility : Help: Glossary: http://www.catalhoyuk.com/database/Çatal/help_glossary1.asp – Includes a description of the different categories and definitions they allow in their database.
  
• Below are a list of features and their components regularly encountered at Çatal Höyük. We are trying to standardise feature typologies which will ease database queries and you should therefore try to stick to those listed below. There is however, no hard and fast rule and other types of features may be encountered. If a feature you are excavating does not fall into one of the categories below, discuss with your area supervisor, and/or the computer officer, in order for a new category to be entered on to the database. This then for example, enables all platforms to be queried on the database and none missed because they have been categorised as a bed, a couch or foundation etc. There will be occasions when a further level of interpretation is needed for some features, but this should be described in the discussion section of the feature sheet. Examples of feature types and sub feature types (the further level of interpretation) are listed below:"
  

• General website with access to the database (see above)
• Excellent example of how a website can be constructed. Includes multiple points of entry for different audiences. Has links to published articles but also includes the full database of materials. Includes daily observations of workers.
  

• This website, based out of the Australian National University, is a tag-based database of photographs of art and architecture from around the world. Once on the page you can use your browser's search function to locate what you need. With a better search function and general interface it could be very useful. The total website appears to include thousands of photographs.
  

• This website is no longer functional as of January 2012
• This website reflects an attempt at creating a database of long-mounds in Europe. It is very difficult to understand, primarily because it uses codes with no explanations. The website appears to not have been updated since 2003. The website was created from the research for a 1995 PhD dissertation at Southern Methodist University in Texas. It is part of larger website called "The Comparative Archaeology WEB", which has the stated goal to "further quick publication of archaeological information across continents. Its ultimate aim is to promote detailed comparisons between large cultural regions. Its purpose is to ascertain the causes for similarities and differences in human development in different parts of the world. Publications include news bulletins, announcements, professional quality abstracts, reports, research papers, dissertations, and databases (including chronologies)" (citation: http://www.comp-archaeology.org/).
  

• Digital presentation of Pompeii excavations including a database. Database is based on photographs of rooms and other discrete features such as doorways or walls, which are then described based on several categories.
  

• Designed as an "on-line" companion to a published volume. It includes photographs and drawings in a database
  

• Designed as an "on-line companion" to a published book it includes the drawings and photographs to accompany the book.
  
  

• Based out of Penn Museum it is a digital database of the Gordion excavations. Seems like it will be worthwhile but appears that the database isn't live yet. There is no way yet to search the database itself, it appears it will be released eventually.
  
• Includes many similar features to our website (bibliography, history of excavations, etc.) although not as extensive.
  

• "The material includes over 80,000 photographic images (black-and white negatives and prints; color slides), hundreds of drawings (large-scale maps and plans; artifacts), hundreds of written reports (excavation notebooks, end-of-season evaluations etc), thousands of Çatalog cards and book-lists (containing tens of thousands of entries detailing the attributes of artifacts, photographs, drawings and documents); and miscellaneous other items."
  

• Database of archaeological sites in the UK, including maps and GPS coordinates.
  

• Mentions the importance and commitment to making data available. Includes links to 4 separate databases including a site database (because it is a survey), pottery database, small finds and image database. Also includes maps and a 3D tour
• Members of PRAP are committed to making the results of the project quickly available to the general public and scholars through the Internet.
  

• Database of images of ancient texts relating to the Near East. Has "educational" aspect as well as "scholarly" portion. Involves research from different universities and different techniques. Not strictly archaeological
  

• The ETANA website includes links to databases such as ABZU and eTACT for texts. They sought to do something similar for archaeological projects but it is still a work in progress.
  
• "From the initial planning for the ETANA site in 2000, discussions about what a subject portal should include cited a need to provide access to, preserve and archive archaeological data from excavations. While individual archaeologists and dig sites were posting data on the web, there was, and still is not, an agreed upon archival storage mechanism or site."
  

• Collection of information regarding Sasanian Seals. Includes maps and photographs
  
• Illustrates the intentionally narrow focus of some databases
  

• Similar to Open Context idea but has not been updated recently (since 2004). Broad scope includes archaeology, physical anthropology and world heritage. It was an attempt to bring together data housed at different institutions into one digital space.
  

Brochure

• Website of foundation supporting excavations at Ephesus, Turkey. Small portion with overview of excavations.
  

• Overarching website of the Archaeological survey of India, which had links to numerous excavations conducted in India. All have only a cursory introduction but it is an impressive amount of information collected into one website.
  

• Byzantine Period Church excavations. Occupied from Chalcolithic onward.
  

• Archaeological Research in Jordan. Excavations and surveys by the University of Toronto

• Brochure style. Publications must be ordered, no free links.
  

• This website is interesting because it is the public presentation of what appears to be a CRM project. Includes many photographs of objects and finds.
  

• Basically just a synopsis, in the "brochure" style, explaining the background and important finds.

• Short synopsis of excavations. Not recently updated. No high-level information.
  

• This website is older, first constructed in 1997 and illustrates how websites can become frozen. It does not seem to have a link to any databases but does have some archival photographs.
  

• General site, mostly in French
  

• Virtual tour around Harappa. Similar to our "footnotes" at Mozan they are a short tour. Includes audio. Not really aimed at scholars.
  

• General site, not specific to any excavation focused on the Indus valley. Includes some 3D models and general introductory material.
  

• Excavations at Petra. Includes links to videos of 3D models, has a preliminary intro to excavations etc.
  

• General intro to excavations. No scholarly info. Links to excavation reports.
  

• Excavation and preservation of first combat submarine in the US. Focused on proper underwater excavation and preservation. Research appears to be privately funded and the website caters to that audience. No real excavation reports or academic level material.
  

• Fortin and Cooper present a short summary of the work at Tell Achareh. Good bibliography but no links and not much analysis.
  

• Excavations at Hattusha, English version of a German site. Has interesting "tour" aspect on website.
  

Brochure and PDF:

• General overview with links to published reports.
  

• Includes links to pdf reports as well as having a cursory introduction
  

• Medieval site of a monastery. Includes archaeological reports as well as animated plans etc. Has links to published reports. Includes enough scholarly information but not a full report of the site.
  

• Slightly interactive with mouse-over maps of the excavations. Includes links to excavation reports.
  

• A little bit of everything. Links to reports (prelim and final).
  

• Includes links to pdfs of articles and reports. Some maps. Not comprehensive.
  

PDF

• Not updated since 2008
  

• General introduction, includes links to published articles (PDFs). Includes some excel charts with no explanations. Fuller presentation of the more recent "City Gate Project" that reads like a general excavation report. Short documentary video about the excavations and staff. Good number of photographs from several areas of excavations.
  

• Short introduction. Includes links to all the excavation reports (in html).
  

• Compilation of numerous articles, images, seminars and news about Pre-Islamic Iran
  

• Example of hosting at a University with only a cursory introduction to the material. Not aimed at scholars. Has links to PDFs of reports
  

• Website focused on an open forum for people (i.e. the general public) to ask questions of the experts. The experts include the leading scholars in the field. There are also links to numerous articles about the Indus valley and by the experts. Not many images.
  

• Section of the greater Çatal Höyük website that presents the previously published materials. The website explains "The reports presented here were originally written for a paper publication, no attempt has been made to edit them beyond conversion to html, as they remain the original author's work. "
  

• Tell Madaba excavations. Includes preliminary reports in html, but read in a linear fashion like pdf formats.
  

Visual or Interactive

• Database based on visual data.
• Integrates GIS, 3D modeling and archaeology

• panoramas of Syria's world heritage sites.
  
• Virtual tour of Palmyre with 360 degree panoramas: http://www.world-heritage-tour.org/middle-east/syria/palmyre/map.html
  

• Interactive tour of Rome, designed for students of the classics to visit and tour Rome as well as to practice Latin.
  
  

• "creating a digital archive of world's heritage sites for preservation and education"
  

• Run by a project called CyArk, they produce 3D mapping of archaeological sites, GIS and a rundown of the excavations. Lots of high quality photographs and panoramic photographs. This is the link to one site, Tambo Colorado in Peru. Maurizio Forte was part of the 3D reconstructions
  

• Take a virtual tour of Lascaux cave. Can click on paintings to look at them closer. Runs fast and seamlessly.
  

• Çatalog of virtual reality tours of classical sites. No information on what is being viewed.
  

• Shows reconstructions at Troy using virtual reality and drawings.
  

• Virtual tour of Troy with map and walk-through (click and it move you through the landscape using pictures).
  

• Designed to accompany a museum tour this website is geared at a younger audience with an introduction to archaeology and ancient Egypt.
  

• Website out of Berkeley that has information on small portion of the Çatal Höyük excavations. Designed to be explored and "remixed" it allows someone to navigate and reinterpret in their own way.
  

• Videos from archaeological sites around the world. Has a map where you can click on dots to access videos from specific sites.
  

• A electronic tour of the Boston Big Dig materials as they were presented in a museum
  

• Educational site designed to explore both the tomb of Senneferi as well as explain the basics of archaeology.
  

• Website focused on mapping the Valley of the Kings and area around Thebes. It presents many visuals, and requires the user to interact with the maps in order to retrieve information.
  

• Part of the Archaeology Magazine, this section features the dig at Sagalassos. It includes a 3D plug-in with google earth and links to articles and reports from the field. there are additional features aimed at different audiences.
  

Link Aggregation Sites:

• Website section of the website. They appear to collect links and reviews to recent publications on the web.
• "committed to the principles of open-accessand community network"
  
• "H-Soz-u-Kult's editors vouch for the selection of the news, guarantee the compliance with quality standards, and process and archive the published articles on the web. The predominantly voluntary editorial team publishes more than 1,000 reviews of relevant publications annually."
  

• Interesting site the collates information about ongoing excavations in Turkey. It hosts short descriptions of hundreds of sites.
  

• Not associated with any excavation, this website is dedicated to collecting information on the publication of any archaeological project in Turkey.
  

• A good number of the links are dead, shows the importance of online curation.
  

• Links to different archaeological sites
  

• Links to historical archaeological sites and databases.
  

• Collection of works relating to Turkish archaeology. English and Turkish.
  
• "The mission of 'The History, Archaeology, Art and Cultural Heritage Foundation' (TASK) is to document, prepare databases of, rescue, preserve, restore, and to increase public awareness of the historical, archaeological, ethnographical, ecological, architectural, artistic and cultural heritage of Turkey; to encourage and promote scientific activities, to organise educational programs and activities for the preservation of heritage for future generations; to inform the national and international public in this regard, to increase public awareness about these issues, and to serve public interest in cooperation with national and international organisations active in those aforementioned fields."
  

• General site with numerous links
  

Topic-based Sites:

• Basically a round-up of all sites about Petra. Not scholarly or comprehensive but links to many scholarly projects and excavations at Petra.
  

• Compilation of pictures and information about the Minoans for a primarily non-scholarly audience
  

Theory on Digital Publication/Open Access

Parks and Living Museums:

• Useful for comparisons with the eco-archaeological park. Has a component for job creation, crafts and education in the local area coordinating with archaeology in the Cape Town area.
  

• Link to Mumford museum site. Has recreation of village life in early America. I imagine there are many more around the country (like Williamsburg).
  

• Link to the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, including area around Temple mount.