Current Projects
The AAI is currently working on a variety of projects aimed at expanding the accessibility and usefulness of primary field research.
| Open Context: In spring 2006, we launched the Beta version of Open Context, a free, open access resource for the electronic publication of primary field research from archaeology and related disciplines. Open Context represents a simplified version of the data structures described by the Archaeological Markup Language (ArchaeoML) for expression in a relational database system. Continuing developments on Open Context are aimed at enabling Atom feeds that syndicate results of searches run through the system's faceted search interface. (Left: Artifact and excavation images from Open Context) | |
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User Experience Study: With a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the AAI is undertaking a 2-year study (starting in January 2009) of user experience in the digital humanities, with specific case studies from archaeology. By observing creators and users of digital content in the context of their work, we will develop specific strategies and methods to enhance access to, and usability of, primary archaeological research content. The project is a collaboration between the AAI and the ISD Program at the School of Information at UC Berkeley. The dedicated project blog, Heritage Bytes, provides frequent updates. |
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Toolkit for iHeritage: In collaboration with The African Commons Project (TACP), we are developing an open source toolkit that will allow organizations with few resources to be able to share heritage content. The toolkit currently in development is an integration of Open Context RESTful web services with the Omeka content management system. This collaboration is funded by the Ford Foundation. |
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Penelope Import Tool: The AAI is currently developing a web-based authoring tool to enable the community to easily contribute content to the Open Context and OCHRE systems. This data-weaving tool, called “Penelope”, will enable individual researchers to publish their analytic data, notes, images, maps, and other types of content. Penelope will be available through links on the Open Context web site and will come with simple instructions on how to prepare and upload content. |
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Iraqi Modern Art Archive: In collaboration with Professor Nada Shabout (University of North Texas), we are developing the the Iraqi Modern Art Archive, an open access, online system for gathering and sharing information about the works of art, many of them now lost, from the Iraqi Museum of Modern Art in Baghdad. The project will document and share Iraqi artistic expressions and experiences through the implementation of dynamic Web services, creating a virtual gallery with images of the works, linked to publications, exhibition catalogs and personal documentation. |
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Intellectual Property Issues in Cultural Heritage: We are delighted to take part in the Intellectual Property Issues in Cultural Heritage project, an effort representing an international, interdisciplinary collaboration among more than 50 scholars and 25 partnering organizations embarking on an unprecedented and timely investigation of intellectual property (IP) issues in cultural heritage that represent emergent local and global interpretations of culture, rights, and knowledge. |
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Promoting Open Communication: The AAI is providing digital support services for the International Council for Archaeozoology, including a new online membership service. In addition, the AAI developed BoneCommons, a service for the global zooarchaeological community that enhances research and communication by providing an open (access) space to share research materials, ask questions, post images, and communicate about upcoming events. |
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Open Archaeology Prize Competitions: From 2007 to 2010, the AAI is hosting a series of Open Archaeology Prize competitions aimed at raising awareness of open access solutions among the research community by highlighting current frameworks for sharing content in different communities. Winners of past Open Archaeology Prize competitions include both senior and junior scholars. |
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Book on Tools for Communicating Archaeology: The AAI hosted a session at the 2008 Society for American Archaeology meeting titled "Web 2.0 and Beyond: New Tools for Archaeological Communication and Collaboration." Audio recordings of the papers presented in the session can now be accessed here. A book of the same title will be published in 2009 (edited by Sarah Whitcher Kansa, Eric Kansa and Ethan Watrall). |
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