CORRIE AVILA, ELIZABETH DEZULUETA, SOFIA MUKHANOV, MAARJA-LI ISA SOKK
Exploring the History of Venice:Relics, Records, and Relations
Historical Resources
History of Venice
Archaeology
Manuscripts Genetic Research
Manuscripts
Manuscripts
Venice State Archive
Contains an unbroken history of Venice
Live archive expanding Receiving new records
Manuscripts
78+ kilometers of shelving
Records are fragile
1000+ years oldWritten on
parchment
Redundant Research Process
Scholar 1 Chooses Manuscri
pt
Request Manuscrip
t
Search Shelves
Obtain Manuscript
Research in Study Room
Produce Transcriptio
n
Redundant Research Process
Scholar 2 Chooses Manuscri
pt
Request SAME
Manuscript
Search Shelves
Obtain SAME Manuscript
Research in Study Room
Produce Transcriptio
n
Redundant Research Process
Scholar 3 Chooses Manuscri
pt
Request SAME
Manuscript
Search Shelves
Obtain SAME Manuscript
Research in Study Room
Produce Transcriptio
n
Individualistic Researching
Scholar 3Scholar 2
Scholar 1
Results of Over Usage
Manuscripts are deteriorating
Some kept from public use
Losing information
Risk of ruining historic records
Ongoing Efforts for Change: Project Divenire
Collection of digital reproductionsOnline and publicly available
SiASVe: Sistema Informativo dell’ Archivo di Stato di Venezia
Online index of records
Creator, keywords, and short description
Ongoing Efforts for Change
SiASVe & Divenire uScript
Searchable databaseDescriptions of
manuscriptsDigital reproductions
of manuscriptsAvailable online
Searchable databaseDescriptions of
manuscriptsDigital reproductions of
manuscriptsAvailable onlineDatabase of
transcriptionsOpen sourceCumulative and
collaborative
The Promise of uScript
Search
aanann
anno?
Scholar 1 anno
Marie
IInIn nnonomnominominnominenomine ddodomdomidomindominidomini
Transcription Assistant
Scholar 1
Contribution
Accountant
Search
ddodomdomidomindomini
domini
Scholar 2
Archival Assistant
Marie
IInIn nnonomnominominnominenomine ddodomdomidomindominidomini nnonosnostnostrnostrinostri
Transcription Assistant
MMaMarMariMaries
Transcription Assistant
MarieMaries
Scholar 1
Scholar 2
Contribution
Accountant
Search
ddodomdomidomindomini
domini
Scholar 3
Archival Assistant
Marie
Scholar 1
Scholar 2
Scholar 3
Contribution
Accountant
uScript: A Solution
Archival Assistant
Transcription Assistant
Contribution
Accountant
Searches Manuscripts and Transcriptions
Automatic Correlation Boxing
Transcribe manuscripts into program
Learn handwriting Automatic Transcriptions
Rates Users and Transcriptions
Promotes Accuracy
Goal of uScript uScript’s promise
Reduce redundancy Facilitate transcriptions Provide a cumulative and
collaborative database Gradually transcribe the entire
archive
WPI’s Contribution: uScript
Scholar 3Scholar 2Scholar 1
Implementing uScript
Not Complete: need resources Program is unfinished Grants not received Labor and usage are not promoted
0% 100%
uScript Website
Reorganizing websiteUpdating information
Our Project
Advancing uScript Code
WPI Career Development Center Summer internships School projects
Computer Science Interactive Media and Game
Development
Archaeology
Excavations in Venice
Manual data
recording
Fill out Forms
File Reports
Publish Report
Excavation Process
Photographing the site before digging. Describing the site before
digging.
Photographing and describing any artifacts found at the site.
Excavation Process
Ground Layer = 100
Dig next layer (at their discretion)Next layer = 101
Manual data
recording
Fill out Forms
File Reports
Publish Report
Necessary Forms
Unita StratigraficaIndice di FotoScheda Organica Scheda Sceleto
Manual data
recording
Fill out Forms
File Reports
Publish Report
File Reports
Compiling Data into Reports
Manual data
recording
Fill out Forms
File Reports
Publish Report
Manual data
recording
Fill out Forms
File Reports
Publish Report
•promote public interest in archaeology
•Android Application using Layar•Information about sites up to 5 km from user•Display of images and factual information about site
Significant Archaeology in Venice
Genetic Genealogy
?
Origins of the ancient Veneti?
Current Theories of Veneti Origins
Lusatia Theory
Modern-day: Germany, Poland, and Czech Republic
Brittany-Wales Theory
Modern-day: France and England
Paphlagonia Theory
Modern-day: Turkey
Genetic Genealog
y?
1000 AD 2010 AD
DNA :Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, Thymine
A-TT-A
C-GG-C
The Science of Genetic Genealogy: DNA
nucleotides
< gene
< chromosome
< nuclear DNA
Genes within corresponding chromosomes
recombine during cell division
Recombinant X chromosomes can be inherited from either parent by a male or
female
The Y chromosome is an exception
Mutations Preserved
Genetic Locations of Interest
= +
coding DNA
non-coding DNA
Genetic Locations of Interest
non-coding DNA
Loci
Locations of interest for genetic markers
Genetic Markers
Short Tandem Repeats (STR)
Single Nucleotide
Polymorphisms (SNPs)
---ATTG ATTG ATTG ATTG---
---ACTGA--- vs. ---ACTAA---
mutations
Haplogroups
---ACTGA--- ---ACTAA---
haplogroup examples: R1a, J2, I1a
Haplogroups
---ACTGA--- ---ACTAA---
We all stemmed from one ancestor.
How did certain groups of people diverge? When did they diverge?
Where did they migrate?
Haplogroup Distribution
Genetic Genealogy
Genographic Project
•5 year contract
•human migratory history
•novel technology
Genographic Project
•DNA from thousands of people
•individual migration paths
•anyone can test DNA
•similar project: familytree.com
Example: map of participant in R1a haplogroup
Missing Piece: Ancestors of Veneti
Origins of the ancient Veneti (“Venets”) are unknown
?
2008
Previous Work by WPI
122 valid DNA samples in Venice
Created map of theories
Obtained data from Genographic
Whatman Sterile Omni Swab Kit
Previous Study
too much genetic variability from
gene flow
inconclusive results
Our Work
1. Determination of locations for new genetic research
2. Plan of DNA collection
3. Organization of research for future studies
Determining Significant Locations
evidence of the Venets throughout Europe
links to their ancient migration
Written Accounts
Ancient Support
e.g. Homer's Account
Recent Support
e.g. Savli's Theory
Archaeological Finds
e.g. Burial Urns
Mythology
e.g. Raetia
Genetic Genealogy
e.g. R1a Haplogroup Connection
History
Traditions
e.g. Bonfires
"Venet" Populations in Europe
e.g. Veneti of Brittany
Geographical Distribution of Evidence
archaeology example: burial urns
Geographical Distribution of Evidence
mythology example: deity worship
Geographical Distribution of Evidence
other: scholars, traditions, documents, other finds
Target Locations
Wales
Brittany
Lusatia
Slovenia
Paphlagonia
Veneto
Our Work
1. Determination of locations for new genetic research
2. Plan of DNA collection
3. Organization of research for future studies
Plan of DNA Collection
Organized collection & established means for future analysis
100100
100
100
Genetic Comparison to Veneto
Veneto
Lagole Mel Montebelluna Auronzo Belluno
100
Participant Specifications
National Genographic require males who are:
o unrelated,o 18+,o born in “given” region,o parents born in same region,o grandparents born in same region
3 generations in region
???
Future Genetic Analysis:
Compare and correlate genetic data
Establish relations
Genetic Genealog
y?
Support with historical and archaeological research
?
Facilitating Historical Research
History of Venice
Archaeological Tools
Transcriptional Tools
Genetic Research Tools
Questions or Comments?
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