Alpha testing, beta testing, rapid prototyping and minimum viable products: terms you’re unlikely to ever hear on an archaeology site (or indeed, outside of valleys and roundabouts that don’t have the word silicon in front of them).
But that’s exactly what we were up to with Digital Dig Team this summer, as Heritage Lottery Funding meant that we could develop software to take archaeological recording ‘social’ for the first time ever. Here’s what we’ve been up to with it all since then…
The idea behind the Digital Dig Team recording system is simple: you can report data from the trenches in real time and share it immediately with the rest of the world over the internet. All of our Venturers can add information and interpretations to the system using a smart phone, tablet or computer and anyone can view the data as soon as it is saved, and it proved to be a real hit…
“The Digital Dig Team system was a surprise, and is really exciting, brilliant idea. I was impressed by the sheer accessibility to anybody, whether they have a degree or not in archaeology. It’s very good that a complete novice can come and still feel that they can contribute.” – Julie Inett, Dirty Weekend Venturer
We have pulled all of the feedback together from our Venturers and Field School staff to come up with ideas for how to make the Digital Dig Team Recording System even better. We have been having some very exciting meetings with the developers and can’t wait to show you Digital Dig Team 2.0 In the meantime, however, here is a bit of what you can look forward to…
Digital Dig Team 2.0
A more responsive design, increased number of features and more accessible data… DDT 2.0 will be sleeker, easier to use and will show a lot more information.
The DigVentures Field Guide
With dedicated instructional information and videos, all Venturers will have a comprehensive digital fieldwork guide to assist them through all aspects of an excavation which will support and develop their skills.
Cyber Dig
Digital Dig Team… for kids! The Cyber Dig will enable children to understand the past by looking at and recording archaeological artefacts and working out the stories that they can tell us. DigVentures will be visiting schools in Suffolk this autumn, bringing the Cyber Dig and objects that were excavated this year at Leiston Abbey with them.
More Data
And if you really can’t wait and to see something new now, you are in luck! We have started digitising all of the records from the 2013 Leiston Abbey excavation so that it is alongside the 2014 data. You can see this by clicking here. Don’t forget to keep checking back to see what has been added.
