DANA: A New Software Tool for Field Archaeologists Dr. Stefan Münger (University of Bern)/ Liat Weinblum (IAA)

1. Digital Archaeology and National Archives
A New Software Tool for Field Archaeologists
Liat Weinblum (Israel Antiquities Authority)
Dr. Stefan Münger (University of Bern)
Khirbet Adasse, excavated by Yehiel Zelinger, 2015

2. The Envisioned Tool
• Easy adaptation to diverse work
situations in the field
• Time efficient
• Streamlining archaeological
documentation processes
• Simplifying administrative
reporting
• Easy connectivity to pre-existing
institutional IT-framework
‘Enot Nisanit, excavated by Yotam Tepper, 2012

3. The Development of
the System
• Stand-alone solution not
depending on network
connectivity
• Adaptation to different work
contexts
• Method sensitive
• Scalability
• Integration into existing
workflows
Khirbet Adasse, excavated by Yehiel Zelinger, 2015

4. Focus on Usability
• User friendliness
• Streamlining of excavation
processes using a common
‘archaeological language’
(thesaurus)
• Full standardization of all IAA
excavations
• Efficiency of post-excavation
processes
Khirbet Adasse, excavated by Yehiel Zelinger, 2015

5. Technical specifications
of the System
• Based of FileMaker Pro, V.
12.0.3 and higher
• GUI enhanced on basis of
OpenLayers, V. 13.0.1 and
other open-source libraries
• CalcEngine expanded using
e.g. GeoScript (Groovy)
• Third-party plugins
• ODBC connectivity, data
exchange via XML, geoJSON
etc.
Ramat Beth Shemesh, excavated by Itzhak Paz, 2014

6. The Implementation
of the System
• Alpha phase focused on
• Applicability of the system
• Definition of work processes
• Usability in the field
• Efficiency
• DANA = Digital Archaeology
and National Archives
• Full implementation since 2014
with c. 300 excavations p.a.

7. Post-excavation
Processes
• Excavation report in PDF format
• Data export to institutional IT-
framework
• Bureaucratical procedure
closing
• Photographic archive
• Data export and import to/from
experts
• Data export for GIS analysis

8. Conclusion
• Ongoing development of
software components
• Constant monitoring of user
experience in order to achieve
best possible usability
• Positive feedback of field staff
and institutional administrative
units
Nahal Shiqma, excavated by Rina Avner, 2013

9. Thank you for your attention!
Ness Ziona, excavated by Uzi Ad, 2013 Khirbet Adasse, 2015
Nahal Shiqma, 2012