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?