As part of a web development that took place in several phases from October 2022 to October 2023, we have improved some of our search functionalities, introduced map searches, and deployed a set of map and chart visualisations pertaining to (a) individual hoards, (b) a number of queries able to interrogate results across our dataset, and (c) 'Coins per date of minting' histograms:
We have also increased the visibility of Persistent Digital Identifiers (i.e. permalinks) across our dataset by displaying them for each hoard (the link can be copied onto the clipboard) and creating a section for external permalinks under the section ‘References’.
This current IT development has again been conducted by the Oxford University CMS and Web Platforms Team: Markos Ntoumpanakis, Martin King, Finlay Birnie (as web developers), and Ruth Mason as Team leader.
Map searches
Queries on the Search and Advanced search pages can now be filtered in order to only encompass a specific geographical area, drawn directly on the map. We opted for a tool allowing to select a polygonal area, as this offered a great degree of flexibility as to the shape that one can delineate.
Example of a search restricted to the Peloponnesus.
Mints displayed on Map Results
For searches at coin level involving the field ‘mint’ as a search criteria, the location of that mint can now be displayed on the map showing the results.
Distribution of provincial silver coins minted in Amisus, currently entered in the database.
Distribution of Imperial coins minted in Cyzicus, currently entered in the database.
Refining searches through timeline
When displaying ‘Map Results’ of a search for hoards, a timeline placed beneath the map allows to further filter the results by the end date of the hoards.
A list of hoards without precise location that are omitted from the map is now given below any map displaying the results of a search.
Map showing hoards containing denarii of Gordian III (AD 238-244), with timeline enabling to refine the search by end date of hoards.
Visualisations for individual hoards: circulation and content
For each hoard, two visualisation tabs (Circulation visualisation and Content visualisation) allow to show (a) a map with all the mints represented in the hoard and (b) a series of charts related to the content of the hoard.
The content charts display the composition of the hoard by Period, Reign, Person, Mint, Denomination, or Material, either as bar or pie charts. Stacked bar charts offer the possibility to further refine the display by showing, for example, the number of coins per person for each reign (Coins per Reign stacked by Person).
A description detailing the principles underlying all visualisations can be found here.
Visualisations for groups of hoards
We have introduced a series of set queries interrogating data from across the entire dataset. These queries are performed on the results of a search .
The tab Result Visualisation displays the following queries:
Hoards found by decade
Hoards by closing date
Hoards by closing reign
Hoards by site type
The tab Group visualisation displays a series of charts pertaining to the content of all the hoards returned by the search. Bar charts can be stacked, enabling a finer analysis of the data in displaying for example the number of coins per mint for each reign.
A description detailing the principles underlying all visualisations can be found here.
Chart showing hoards by closing date, for hoards currently entered for Denmark.
Chart showing hoards by closing reign, for hoards with provincial coins currently entered for Bulgaria.
Chart showing the number of coins per denomination for each reign, excluding uncertain entries, of all hoards currently entered for Sweden.
Coins per date of minting
These histograms map the chronological profile of the content of all hoards returned by a search, in number of coins. Periodicity can be set to 25 years, 10 years, 5 years, and 1 year.
A description detailing the principles underlying all visualisations can be found here.
Histogram showing the chronological profile of all hoards found at Dura-Europos (Syria), a site destroyed by the Sasanians in the mid-250's.
All charts show data entered and validated as of October 2023.
Marguerite Spoerri Butcher, October 2022 – October 2023.
