What is DINAA?
The Digital Index of North American Archaeology (DINAA) aggregates archaeological and historical data sets developed over the past century from numerous sources, especially state and federal government agencies. DINAA provides public and research communities with a uniquely comprehensive window into human settlement across North America. DINAA is a collaborative project involving researchers at the University of Tennessee, Indiana State University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Open Context, and partners in many government agencies and tribal nations across the United States. The project began in 2012 with funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), and has continued with renewed support from the NSF and a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services in 2016. View the initial technical proposal.
Current DINAA Coverage: Click Here to Explore
Open Context hosts DINAA data with this project overview and links to associated data. As DINAA grows, the project overview will link to expanded data resources.
How Can I Use DINAA?
DINAA focuses on publishing archaeological “site file” records. Each site file describes an archaeological site recorded by state and federal government agencies that enforce federal historical protection laws. Many government offices directly provided DINAA with data. These data are redacted of sensitive information particularly precise location information so that they can be made public. So, while these data cannot be used for compliance purposes, they still can be used for:
- Instruction and education about North America’s archaeology and history
- Research into broad patterns of human settlement over long time periods
- Linking reports, publications and even museum collections together in space and time
Where Can I Learn More?
This page you are currently reading provides ongoing information about the progress of the project. Click on the links below for more information about the project’s progress. We also broadcast updates to the community via the NASA (National Association of State Archaeologists) listserv. You can also visit our booth in the exhibit hall at the Society for American Archaeology meeting and the annual National Tribal Preservation conference.
I’d Like to Give Feedback and/or Get Involved!
We welcome your questions, comments, and participation in this project, so please comment below or contact us directly by emailing the project PIs: David Anderson (dander19 AT utk.edu), Josh Wells (jowells AT iusb.edu), and/or Eric Kansa (ekansa AT alexandriaarchive.org).
- Project Overview (Aug. 6, 2012)
- Initial Announcement (Aug. 7, 2012)
- Initial Communication with the National Association of State Archaeologists (NASA) (Aug. 24, 2012)
- Sensitive Data Security Measures and SHPO Collaboration (Aug. 24, 2012)
- Data Transfer Instructions (Oct. 31, 2012)
- Second Communication with the National Association of State Archaeologists (NASA) (Nov. 2, 2012)
- DINAA Annual Report (October 2013)
- Florida and Georgia Site Files Launch DINAA Project (December 2013)
- Program for the DINAA Workshop at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (March 19-20, 2014)
- Explore a draft release of the data, updated in September 2015 with the upgrade of Open Context
- DINAA to expand, with support from the IMLS (April 2016)
- New NSF Awards for DINAA (June 2016)
- DINAA Phase I Final Report (41 page PDF, with figures and references) (November 2016)
- Linking DINAA and the Federal Register (December 2016)
- PLOS ONE publication uses DINAA data to explore the impacts of sea level rise on US archaeological sites. (November 2017)
- Webinar: “Protecting American Heritage through Linked Data: Using DINAA as a Guide in a Changing World” The webinar slides and audio are available on YouTube (click the video below) or here. We are very grateful to the National Park Service for providing the recording!. You may also download the slides (PDF) and the text of the presentation. (February 2018)
- New publication in the journal Antiquity uses the example of DINAA to highlight the value of protecting public records of scientific research. (April 2018)
DINAA Information Sheets:
We have created a series of one-page handouts on Google docs for people interested in DINAA to download, reuse, and share.
Additional Project News and Updates: