En busca de un horizonte común para la Biblioteca digital de arqueología náutica (NADL). Reflexiones sobre ciencia, método, teoría y plantillas

[EN] Data sharing is a fundamental process for the advancement of both natural and social sciences. Starting from the idea that computers and the internet have drastically changed the world in the last decades, this paper advocates for the creation of a space where archaeologists from around the world can share information about maritime history and exchange data with colleagues. Following the principles of open access, we argue that raw data publication is necessary and significant for the development and democratization of the discipline. This study explains the fundamental aspects of the Nautical Archaeology Digital Library (NADL) and its efforts to standardize information collection for shipwrecks and related sites, so that scholars can create a community to disseminate both raw data and complete information in the field of maritime archaeology. To achieve this, our purpose is to facilitate the development of common-ground methodology and terminology that promotes an intelligible dialogue within the global community of nautical archaeologists. This paper addresses some considerations on terminology and systematization in scientific disciplines and discusses the theoretical and methodological issues linked to the process of making a template for recording shipwrecks. Furthermore, this article analyses some of the problems related to the standardization of description processes and the necessity to create a flexible system that accounts for data diversity. The third section discusses how science is greatly enhanced by publishing information in open access platforms.Highlights:Standardization of data allows robust comparative and inter-subjective analysis of coastal and maritime projects, shipwrecks and nautical technology.Research is strongly benefited by sharing information underlying publications and raw data generated within a project in open source platforms.Digital databases such as NADL enhance cooperative research, as well as teaching and outreach strategies.[ES] Compartir información es un proceso fundamental para el desarrollo de las ciencias naturales y sociales. Partiendo de la idea de que las computadoras e Internet han cambiado drásticamente el mundo en las últimas décadas, este trabajo aboga por la creación de un espacio en el que arqueólogos de alrededor del mundo puedan compartir información sobre historia marítima e intercambiar datos con otros colegas. Siguiendo los principios del libre acceso, sostenemos que la publicación de datos en bruto es necesaria y significativa para el desarrollo y democratización de la disciplina. Este artículo explica los fundamentos de la Biblioteca Digital de Arqueología Náutica (NADL: https://nadl.tamu.edu/) y sus esfuerzos por estandarizar el registro de la información sobre naufragios y sitios relacionados, para que los investigadores puedan crear una comunidad de divulgación, tanto de datos primarios como de información completa en el campo de la arqueología marítima. Para lograrlo, nuestro propósito es contribuir al desarrollo de una metodología y terminología común que promueva un diálogo inteligible entre la comunidad global de arqueólogos náuticos. En este artículo presentamos algunas consideraciones sobre la terminología y la sistematización en las disciplinas científicas y discutimos los problemas teóricos y metodológicos vinculados al proceso de creación de una plantilla para el registro de naufragios. Además, reflexionamos sobre algunos de los problemas relacionados con la estandarización de los procesos descriptivos y la necesidad de crear un sistema flexible que refleje la diversidad de los datos. Finalmente, discutimos cómo la ciencia se ve enormemente favorecida por la publicación de información en plataformas de libre acceso.This paper is a result of a T3 Texas A&M University grant. We want to thank the NADL community for their input. This paper is based on extensive discussions among the community. 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La semántica de los naufragios en el Golfo de México y el Caribe: arqueología marítima bajo perspectiva

La región que comprende el Golfo de México y el Caribe ha sido paisaje integrante y dinámico de movilidad cultural entre América y Europa, y preserva un legado material único representativo de cambios y continuidades tanto a nivel regional, como en sincronía global. En el presente texto se evaluarán los alcances y prácticas de investigación en arqueología marítima en la región, así como estrategias institucionales y realidades particulares para el hallazgo, estudio y preservación de los contextos sumergidos. Se centrará en el potencial interpretativo del naufragio, a partir de la dialéctica del pecio, para el conocimiento de los procesos de navegación, multiculturalidad, adaptación y transformación del mundo flotante. Se reflexionará sobre el reto que implica el rescate y preservación de este patrimonio como potencial fuente de conocimiento universal

Preserving Endangered Languages using a Layered Web-based Archive

Many human languages, an essential part of culture, are in danger of extinction. UNESCO estimates that at least a half of the world's 6500 spoken languages will disappear within the next 100 years. This problem can be addressed to some extent by computer systems that collect, archive and disseminate dictionaries for various languages, thus performing the key function of preservation. The approach taken in this project was to develop a Web-based multilingual thesaurus, with mechanisms for the submission and retrieval of language data and metadata. This thesaurus was built on top of the FEDORA Web-based digital repository toolkit. Two distinct user interfaces were then developed as part of a proof of concept language preservation system, namely a Web interface and a cell phone interface. These were created using AJAX and J2ME+GPRS respectively. Both user interfaces were designed using an iterative User-Centred Design approach, and the back-end system was designed to meet the needs of the user interfaces, with a Web-based API. The resulting system proved to be useful as users indicated that they could preserve spoken languages by submitting and retrieving words in their own languages. The independent successful evaluations of the 2 user interfaces together demonstrate the feasibility of creating a preservation-directed archive as a layered Web-based digital repository, where the preservation function is separable and accessible through a well-defined Web-based API

Texas Center for Digital Humanities and New Media

We propose the creation of a Center for Digital Humanities, Media and Culture (formerly titled Texas Center for Digital Humanities and New Media). The Center will address two related grand challenges: the need to investigate the relationship of computing technologies and culture, and the need to construct cyberinfrastructure for the humanities and social sciences. The Center’s research, focused in four interrelated areas -- the cultural record, cultural systems, cultural environments, and cultural interactions in the digital age – engages one of the most compelling questions of our time: What does it mean to be human in the digital age

Shipwrecks from the Historia Tragico-Maritima

This thesis catalogs the Portuguese ships that wrecked while sailing the India Route, the passage between India and Portugal popularized in the 16th and 17th centuries. The focus will be on ships lost along the African coast as both historical documents and archaeological finds have accrued in association with these wrecks. By combining these sources, this thesis will describe the cultural context and physical evidence of these wrecks. Much of the historical evidence originates from the História Trágico-Marítima, originally published in Portuguese, with excerpts later translated into English by Charles Ralph Boxer, George Theal, Charles Ley, and Josiah Blackmore. Additionally, the material will be supported by a GIS visualization of known India Route wreck locations, namely in the form of point maps displaying the locations of the wrecks in reference to their geographic location and to each other. By creating a catalog with source materials drawn from both historical accounts and archaeological evidence I plan to weave together a cohesive understanding of Portuguese shipwrecks lost along the India Route

Shipwrecks from the Historia Tragico-Maritima

This thesis catalogs the Portuguese ships that wrecked while sailing the India Route, the passage between India and Portugal popularized in the 16th and 17th centuries. The focus will be on ships lost along the African coast as both historical documents and archaeological finds have accrued in association with these wrecks. By combining these sources, this thesis will describe the cultural context and physical evidence of these wrecks. Much of the historical evidence originates from the História Trágico-Marítima, originally published in Portuguese, with excerpts later translated into English by Charles Ralph Boxer, George Theal, Charles Ley, and Josiah Blackmore. Additionally, the material will be supported by a GIS visualization of known India Route wreck locations, namely in the form of point maps displaying the locations of the wrecks in reference to their geographic location and to each other. By creating a catalog with source materials drawn from both historical accounts and archaeological evidence I plan to weave together a cohesive understanding of Portuguese shipwrecks lost along the India Route

Shipwrecks from the Historia Tragico-Maritima

This thesis catalogs the Portuguese ships that wrecked while sailing the India Route, the passage between India and Portugal popularized in the 16th and 17th centuries. The focus will be on ships lost along the African coast as both historical documents and archaeological finds have accrued in association with these wrecks. By combining these sources, this thesis will describe the cultural context and physical evidence of these wrecks. Much of the historical evidence originates from the História Trágico-Marítima, originally published in Portuguese, with excerpts later translated into English by Charles Ralph Boxer, George Theal, Charles Ley, and Josiah Blackmore. Additionally, the material will be supported by a GIS visualization of known India Route wreck locations, namely in the form of point maps displaying the locations of the wrecks in reference to their geographic location and to each other. By creating a catalog with source materials drawn from both historical accounts and archaeological evidence I plan to weave together a cohesive understanding of Portuguese shipwrecks lost along the India Route

Shipwrecks from the Historia Tragico-Maritima

This thesis catalogs the Portuguese ships that wrecked while sailing the India Route, the passage between India and Portugal popularized in the 16th and 17th centuries. The focus will be on ships lost along the African coast as both historical documents and archaeological finds have accrued in association with these wrecks. By combining these sources, this thesis will describe the cultural context and physical evidence of these wrecks. Much of the historical evidence originates from the História Trágico-Marítima, originally published in Portuguese, with excerpts later translated into English by Charles Ralph Boxer, George Theal, Charles Ley, and Josiah Blackmore. Additionally, the material will be supported by a GIS visualization of known India Route wreck locations, namely in the form of point maps displaying the locations of the wrecks in reference to their geographic location and to each other. By creating a catalog with source materials drawn from both historical accounts and archaeological evidence I plan to weave together a cohesive understanding of Portuguese shipwrecks lost along the India Route

Experimental Techniques In The Recording And Display Of Archaeological Materials

In the area of the display of data and images from archaeological sites there is very little uniformity. Universities, museums, and institutions use a variety of techniques and software. Because of the lack of a common framework for storing information gathered from the field a great deal of time is lost converting between disparate file formats and learning new program structures. The goal of this project is to create an open platform to accomplish the specialized tasks of recording and displaying data from the field, specifically dealing with the unique problems associated with sites in an underwater context. The final result should be freely available and adaptable. Many challenges were overcome over the course of this project. Providing security, estimating the user’s level of technical ability, creating a simple but effective interface, creating a three dimensional object viewer, and using only tools freely available for public use were the primary problems. The software chosen to author the platform as well as the hardware requirements were intentionally left to a minimum to ensure that users without access to the latest hardware would still be able to use these tools. In addition to these requirements, the final product would have to be hardware agnostic, as well as operating system neutral. As tempting as it would be to call this project complete, it is very much still an evolving work in progress. As new challenges arise the platform should be robust enough to be able to adapt. The modular design of the platform will ensure that future users will be able to adjust and even create completely new components to add functionality and customize the software to their needs