Iowa Archaeological digs being archived on the Internet

An Internet-based archive is under construction that will detail thousands of archaeological sites across Iowa in one massive database. Organizers of the wealth of information say the website will be designed to cater to the needs of all sorts of users.Joe Artz is the geographic information coordinator for the Office of the State Archaeologist. The on-line database will be called “I-Sites.” He says there are about 20-thousand known archaeological sites in the Hawkeye State, which includes all sorts of things, ranging from a ghost town to ancient burial mounds. The website should be available next fall thanks to a 40-thousand dollar grant from the National Park Service’s Center for Preservation Technology and Training. Besides getting information about “digs” in Iowa, users will be able to create maps of the sites and enter information about new sites.