The Alexandria Archive Institute

OPENING THE PAST, INSPIRING THE FUTURE

Digital Data Stories

Welcome to the Digital Data Stories (DDS) Project from the Alexandria Archive Institute! We’re happy to provide these educational resources, which can be used for personal practice or integrated into a course.

The DDS Project, part of the AAI’s Data Literacy Program, promotes a focus in archaeological education on digital data literacy. These exercises, guides, and tutorials teach principles of digital data literacy alongside methods in archaeological analysis and combine different ways of learning and literacy components to illustrate the confluence of science and humanities-based investigations in data collected about the past.

This approach promotes multiple levels of engagement through reading, working with, analyzing, arguing, and communicating with archaeological data to ethically explore the data we have about the past. In these resources, users will utilize a variety of data, from published open-access data sets to popular books to their own belongings to cultivate and practice archaeological data literacy. 

We’re happy to provide you with these educational resources, which can be used for personal practice or integrated into a course.

  • At the top is the title of this piece in light blue. It reads "Turning Data into Narrative". Next to that on the right is a narrow dark blue bar that reads "A Data Story Short" perpendicular to the other text. Below main title is snippet of a It points at a table version of the form from above with different headings. Below that, and used as an arrow, is a Roman style building. Below that a sparkline or a linear depiction of the events/plot of a story. It looks like aline with squiggles and loops. Below that is the Open Context logo of a blue rhombus with long edge oriented up and down on the left and light blue rhombus in the same orientation to form a book next the the words "Open context". This is above words that say "The Alexandria Archive Institute". This is meant to illustrate the process that this short goes through.
    Turning Data into Narrative
    by Paulina Przystupa
    Welcome to the Digital Data Stories of the Alexandria Archive Institute and Open Context!  In this Data Story Short, we’ll talk about what we do with all that data we’ve created, entered, and analyzed.
  • At the top is the title of this piece in light blue. It reads "Going from Notes to Data". Next to that on the right is a narrow dark blue bar that reads "A Data Story Short" perpendicular to the other text. Below main title is snippet of a scanned form filled out by hand with different boxes. Below that, and used as an arrow, is a roman style building. It points at a table version of the form from above with different headings. Below that is the Open Context logo of a blue rhombus with long edge oriented up and down on the left and light blue rhombus in the same orientation to form a book next the the words "Open context". This is above words that say "The Alexandria Archive Institute".
    Going from Notes to Data
    by Paulina Przystupa
    Welcome to the Digital Data Stories of the Alexandria Archive Institute and Open Context! In this Data Story Short, you’ll build your own data set, in a spreadsheet, using notes from archaeological recording forms. This will turn these organized notes into structured tabular data. Structured data are data that can be filtered and/or easily read by a computer.  For this short, you’ll need a set of digital or physical archaeological forms. These can be site, level, or finds forms, or any other set of documents that structured someone’s observations. You can find copies of the forms illustrating this short here… Read more: Going from Notes to Data
  • It has a stone work set of arches with vines and plants growing all over it. There are palm trees in the background and other foliage around the area. It is a cropped and blue tinted version of a public domain image to help decorate the Digital Data Story "A Glorious Mystery: Rosaries and Robbery".
    A Glorious Mystery: Rosaries and Robbery
    by Paulina Przystupa
    This exercise is best suited to those with an interest in the archaeology of Spanish Florida, stakeholders at archaeological sites, or using role-playing games for archaeological education. Users should know how to use the internet for research and interacting with digital documents like PDFs and be prepared to respectively represent the perspectives of others but previous experience with archaeology or role-play is not required.
  • A wavy line with numbers on either side along it's length to denote a path. Above the path is the title of this piece in light blue. It reads "Learn to Conduct a Basic Archaeological Survey". Next to that on the right is a narrow dark blue bar that reads "A Data Story Short" perpendicular to the other text. Below the path is the Open Context logo of a blue rhombus with long edge oriented up and down on the left and light blue rhombus in the same orientation to form a book next the the words "Open context". This is above words that say "The Alexandria Archive Institute".
    Learn to Conduct a Basic Archaeological Survey
    by Paulina Przystupa
    Welcome to the Alexandria Archive Institute and Open Context‘s Data Story Shorts! Here in Learn to Conduct a Basic Archaeological Survey, you’ll conduct an archaeological-style survey of your neighborhood and use those observations to cultivate your data literacy. We based this short on practices from the “slow” movement and if you’d like to learn more about different approaches to “slow” you can check out our references or explore the Digital Data Story this short was based on, The Road Most Traveled: An Archaeological Survey Guide.
  • This is a primarily text image that highlights the TASL specifications for this article for this. On the far left it read from top to bottom: Title, Author, Source, License. After each word is a colon. Next to them, in it's own column, itthen reads "How to use TASL attribution", Paulina F. Przystupa, Alexandria Archive Institute, CC BY. Next to that on the right is a narrow dark blue bar that reads "A Data Story Short" perpendicular to the other text. Below the path is the Open Context logo of a blue rhombus with long edge oriented up and down on the left and light blue rhombus in the same orientation to form a book next the the words "Open context". This is above words that say "The Alexandria Archive Institute".
    How to use TASL attribution
    by Paulina Przystupa
    Welcome to the Digital Data Stories of the Alexandria Archive Institute and Open Context!  In this Data Story Short, we contextualize our use of the Title-Author-Source-License (TASL) attribution system that Creative Commons (CC) suggests people use with CC licensed works. As an extension of the Sourcing Series, in this short we summarize and use examples from Data Literacy Program (DLP) materials to contextualize TASL. However, if you’d prefer to get this information from the source, check out Recommended practices for attribution on the CC wiki. 
  • This header illustrates the Digital Data Story Of Mycenaean Men: THe Public Archaeology Book Club. The image consists of "A Digital Data Story" on the side of the image in white on a blue background. There is rainbow-colored image of a neural-network0-like book adapted from an Adobe Stock image that is the logo for the AAI Reads Series at the center of the image. Beneath this book, are the words AAI READS: Nonfiction. Below that is the logo for Open Context (the opening book) and that of the Alexandria Archive Institute listed underneath it.
    Of Mycenaean Men: The Public Archaeology Book Club
    by Paulina Przystupa
    This exercise is best suited to those with an interest in defining data, understanding archaeological data, or discussing the impacts of archaeological data on modern society. Users should have some familiarity with group discussion or book clubs, but previous experience with data or archaeology is not required.
  • This header illustrates the Data Story Tome Reader: The AAI Reads Comcis Book Club. The image consists of "A Digital Data Story" on the side of the image in white on a blue background. There is rainbow-colored image of a neural-network0-like book adapted from an Adobe Stock image that is the logo for the AAI Reads Series at the center of the image. Beneath this book, are the words AAI READS: Comics. Paulina (a person with long hair, an undercut on the visible side, earrings, glasses wearing a sleeveless shirt) sits on the left looking out at the audience looking as if to speak with Meghan (a person with bangs, long hair, glasses, wearing a loose turtle neck) on the left smiling and looking out at the audience as if to speak.
    Tome Reader: The AAI Reads Comics Book Club
    by Paulina Przystupa
    This exercise is best suited to those with an interest in reading archaeology-related comics, exploring how to use visuals in archaeology, or discussing the impacts of archaeological data on current comic books. Users should have some familiarity with group discussion or book clubs, but previous experience with data, archaeology, or comics is not required.
  • This header illustrates the Data Story "TO DISRUPT AND DELIGHT: TEACHING ARCHAEOLOGY THROUGH NARRATIVE". The image consists of "A Digital Data Story" on the side of the image in white on a blue background. There is a set of adobe or stone walls that are tinged blue that look like the should come together but htere's a larger cut taken out of them. In that empty space sits the title of the Data Story and the logo for Open Context/the Alexandria Archive institute. The missing section of the image was cut out representing a "disruption" to the site caused by a cut through the wall caused looting that then filled with sand.
    To Disrupt and Delight: Teaching Archaeology Through Narrative
    by Paulina Przystupa
    This exercise is best suited to those with an interest in teaching with narrative, archaeological data literacy, and critically engaging with published articles. Users should have some familiarity with academic language and an interest in teaching and learning, but previous experience with data literacy and archaeology is not required.
  • The image is on a white background with a book in the center is a book that looks like a neural network with many connecting lines and nodes. The lines have a rainbow gradient with a hint of dark blue that fades to black in the background. This is the AAI Reads Logo. Above the book is the title of this piece in light blue. It reads "How to make your own (archaeological) book club". Next to that on the right is a narrow dark blue bar that reads "A Data Story Short" perpendicular to the other text. Below the AAI reads logo is the Open Context logo of a blue rhombus with long edge oriented up and down on the left and light blue rhombus in the same orientation to form a book next the the words "Open context". This is above words that say "The Alexandria Archive Institute".
    How to Make Your Own (Archaeological) Book Club
    by Paulina Przystupa
    Welcome to the Alexandria Archive Institute and Open Context‘s Data Story Shorts! Here in How to Make Your Own (Archaeological) Book Club we explain how we selected and created our Aggregative Series book club Data Stories. Reading and discussion—which we consider ways to read, work with, and communicate data—are essential for all archaeology learners.
  • This header illustrates the Data Story A Pun Goes Here: The AAI Reads Fiction Book Club. The image consists of "A Digital Data Story" on the side of the image in white on a blue background. There is rainbow-sized image of a neural network like book adapted from an Adobe Stock image that is the logo for the AAI Reads Series at the center of the image. On its up righhand corner it has large blue tinted hat referencing that this is the AAI Reads Fiction book club. Beneath this combined image set are the words AAI READS: FICTION.
    A Pun Goes Here: The AAI Reads Fiction Book Club
    by Paulina Przystupa
    This exercise is best suited to those with an interest in reading fiction, understanding fictional uses of archaeological data, or discussing the impacts of archaeological data on fiction novels. Users should have some familiarity with group discussion or book clubs, but previous experience with data or archaeology is not required.
  • This header illustrates the Digital Data Story "FAIR Finds: Using Twine in Archaeological Education". The image consists of the words "A Digital Data Story" on the side of the image in white on a blue background. There is a pink sticky note with the title on it. Surrounding the stickynote are the image of a computer screen or monitor, a floppy disk, and an open folder with an arrow pointing down. With the exception of the Sticky note, which has credit information forthcoming, the other icosn are all from the Noun Project under a royalty free license.
    FAIR Finds: Using Twine in Archaeological Education
    by Paulina Przystupa
    This exercise is best suited to those with an interest in the archaeology of Spanish Florida; Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) data; or using interactive fiction for data-driven education. Users should know how to use the internet, navigate a website, and interact with a PDF or online dynamic digital document but previous experience with archaeology or any kind of data is not required.
  • On a dark blue banner in white reads "A Digital Data Story". Perpendicular to that in light blue across the top reads "Stop and Smell…the Material Culture?: An Object-Oriented Observation Guide". Below that is the Open Context logo of a blue rhombus with long edge oriented up and down on the left and light blue rhombus in the same orientation to form a book next the the words "Open context". This is above words that say "The Alexandria Archive Institute". In the center is one grey trowel with flowers growing or etched onto it in Dark blue. This is meant to illustrate that this data story focuses on taking the time to mindfully observe a single belonging.
    Stop and Smell the…Material Culture?: An Object-Oriented Observation Guide
    by Paulina Przystupa
    This exercise is best suited to those with an interest in belonging or material culture analysis, archaeological data collection, or using mindful observation skills for archaeology and daily life. Users should have a basic understanding of observation and recording methods, such as handwritten, audio, or video recording, but little previous experience with archaeology or data collection is required.
  • On a dark blue banner in white reads "A Digital Data Story". Perpendicular to that in light blue across the top reads "The Road Most Traveled: An Archaeological Survey Guide". Below that is the Open Context logo of a blue rhombus with long edge oriented up and down on the left and light blue rhombus in the same orientation to form a door next to the words "Open Context". This is above words that say "The Alexandria Archive Institute". In the center is a series of trowels in dark blue, pink, light blue, and purple that are connected via swirling dashed lines to location tear drops farther down the page. This is meant to illustrate that this data story focuses on survey.
    The Road Most Traveled: An Archaeological Survey Guide
    by Paulina Przystupa
    This exercise is best suited to those with an interest in archaeological survey, archaeological data collection, or using mindful observation skills for archaeology and daily life. Users should have a basic understanding of observation and recording methods, such as handwritten, audio, or video recording, but previous experience with archaeology or data creation is not required.
  • The heading image for our new Data Story 30 Days to an Article: Archaeological Inspiration for Your Writing. It includes the title in light blue across the top, the words "A Digital Data Story in White on a dark blue background on the left edge". The center area has five sticky notes with a pushpin in them with information about the Data Story. The first light blue outlined sticky note on the upper left reads "How to get started on your writing", next to a it an indigo one reads "A 31-Day calendar of writing prompts". The one on the farthest right is also in light blue and reads "Using search terms for inspiration from data". The bottom line has another indigo outlined one that reads "narrative examples from open data" next to a pink outlined one that reads "how to share work safely on social media". These sit on a white background and have the Open Context logo (two rhombii on their sides to form a book with one dark blue side--left--and one light blue side--right). Underneath that reads "The Alexandria Archive Institute". These sit together underneath the Data Story heading to it's lower right.
    30 Days to an Article: Archaeological Inspiration for Your Writing
    by Paulina Przystupa
    This exercise is best suited to those with an interest in public archaeology, writing as practice, or using archaeological data as motivation. Users should have a basic understanding of archaeological data types to understand what platforms to search, but little previous experience with archaeology is required.
  • The heading image for "It’s All in the Wrist (Bones): Archaeological Data as Artistic Inspiration". It includes the title in light blue across the top, the words "A Digital Data Story" in white on a dark blue background on the left edge. The center area has five sticky notes with a pushpin in them information about the Data Story. The first light blue outlined sticky note on the upper left reads "How to get started using data creatively", next to a it an indigo one reads "A 31-Day calendar of writing prompts". The one on the farthest right is also in light blue and reads "searching open context for project data". The bottom line has another indigo outlined one that reads "narrative examples from open data" next to a pink outlined one that reads "how to take part in collaborative creativity projects". These sit on a white background and have the Open Context logo (two rhombii on their sides to form a door opening with one dark blue side--left--and one light blue side--right) Underneath that reads "The Alexandria Archive Institute". These sit together underneath the Digital Data Story' title.
    It’s All in the Wrist (Bones): Archaeological Data as Artistic Inspiration
    by Paulina Przystupa
    This exercise is best suited to those with an interest in public archaeology, the dynamics of ritual behavior, or the archaeology of central China. Users should have a basic understanding of archaeological data types, but little previous experience with archaeology is required.
  • The heading image for our the Digital Data Story "Gabbing about Gabii: Going from Notes to Data to Narrative". It includes an archaeological depiction of a harpy as a statue or cut relief is on a transparent with a Digital Data Story running along the side
    Gabbing about Gabii: Going from Notes to Data to Narrative
    by Paulina Przystupa
    This exercise is best suited to those with an interest in ceramics, the Roman Republic, or the archaeology of the Italian Peninsula. Users should have a basic understanding of archaeological data types, but little previous experience is required.
  • Blue cow on a white background showing the Cattle bones data story style consistency
    Cow-culating your data with spreadsheets and R
    by Paulina Przystupa
    This exercise is best suited to those with an interest in zooarchaeology, the Neolithic, or Central European archaeology. Users should have a basic understanding of what a spreadsheet is, but little previous experience is required.
  • The image is on a white background with a whole Asian Stoneware Jar with an anchor inscribed on it visible to the viewer in the center. This is "UNE373 copy.jpg from Oceania/Northern Mariana Islands/Conception/UNE 373". In Asian Stoneware Jars. Peter Grave (Ed). Released: 2013-03-06. Open Context. ARK (Archive): https://n2t.net/ark:/28722/k2j67910g CC BY. Above the jar is the title of this piece in light blue. It reads "Whose Heritage?: Using material culture to celebrate AANHPI heritage month". Next to that on the right is a narrow dark blue bar that reads "A Data Story Short" perpendicular to the other text. Below the jar is the Open Context logo of a blue rhombus with long edge oriented up and down on the left and light blue rhombus in the same orientation to form a book next the the words "Open context". This is above words that say "The Alexandria Archive Institute".
    Whose Heritage? Using material culture to celebrate AANHPI heritage month
    by Paulina Przystupa
    Welcome to the Alexandria Archive Institute and Open Context‘s Data Story Shorts! In celebration of Asian and Pacific American (AAPI) Heritage Month (AAPIHM) or Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month (AANHPIHM), in this short I’ll use one of Open Context’s projects to consider the complexity of celebrating this heritage month. Specifically, I’ll use the Asian Stoneware Jars data publication, contributed by Dr. Peter Grave.