Integrated Archaeological
Database (IADB)
Presented by: Prof Mark Baker
ACET, University of Reading
Tel: +44 118 378 8615
E-mail: Mark.Baker@computer.org
Web: http://acet.rdg.ac.uk/~mab
17th April 2009
mark.baker@computer.org
Introduction
• The Integrated Archaeological Database system
(IADB) was designed to address the data
management requirements throughout the
lifespan of archaeological excavation projects:
– From initial excavation recording, through postexcavation analysis and research to eventual
dissemination and archiving.
• The IADB consists of data resources and the
links, or connections between them:
– There are a number of different types of resources
as shown in the next few slides.
17th April 2009
mark.baker@computer.org
IADB Resources
• Finds are sub-divided into small, Bulk, Samples,
Skeletons, Architectural Fragments and Structural
Timbers…
• Contexts - each Context can belong to a single Set
• Sets consist of one or more Contexts, for example,
the cut of a pit and its several fills, and can belong to
a single Group.
• Groups consist of one or more Sets, for example,
several associated pit Sets, and can belong to a single
Phase.
• Phases consist of one or more Groups.
17th April 2009
mark.baker@computer.org
IADB Resources
• Objects consist of any combination of Finds, Contexts,
Sets, Groups, Phases and other Objects. They are
defined either as a list of members (static) or as the
result of a database query (dynamic).
• Images include photographs and other digital raster
images such as scanned X-rays. Each image can be
linked to any number of Finds, Contexts, etc and can be
inserted into internal IADB documents.
• Illustrations include any type of digital vector
illustration which can be converted into SVG format
• Structure Diagrams can be simple stratigraphic matrix
diagram showing stratigraphic units and the
relationships between them, or other database
resources.
17th April 2009
mark.baker@computer.org
IADB Resources
• Documents can be internal HTML documents created
and edited within the IADB, externally created
documents (such as PDF files) uploaded and stored
within the IADB, links to external (non-IADB) web
resources, or references to paper documents.
• Bibliography References a global bibliography, from
which selected items are tagged for inclusion within
individual Projects.
17th April 2009
mark.baker@computer.org
IADB Resources
• Built-in Editors - The IADB includes online editors
for creating and manipulating Structure Diagrams,
creating and editing internal documents, and for
digitising single Context.
• Tag Cloud - Any number of user-defined tags may be
applied to any resources within a project database.
• Unique URIs - Each IADB project, each Tagged list,
each individual resource record, and each SQL Query
in an IADB project database has a unique URI which
allows links to individual IADB resources to be
included in web publications.
17th April 2009
mark.baker@computer.org
Finds
17th April 2009
mark.baker@computer.org
Contexts
17th April 2009
mark.baker@computer.org
Object
17th April 2009
mark.baker@computer.org
Images
17th April 2009
mark.baker@computer.org
Illustrations
17th April 2009
mark.baker@computer.org
A Search for Finds
17th April 2009
mark.baker@computer.org
Maps
17th April 2009
mark.baker@computer.org
Matrices
17th April 2009
mark.baker@computer.org
Documents
17th April 2009
mark.baker@computer.org