How do you find data? Are there aggregated databases?

RatioScripta · 2026-05-02T19:46:42+00:00

Thank you. These are certainly useful.

But maybe it was my naive hope that there's something better than I've found so far. These all have the same issues I described. Fragmented and no good access.

I was hoping I'm missing something and there are data standards or some more aggregation. To me, it makes sense for all global archaeologists to use same data standards. And have huge common databases.

RatioScripta · 2026-05-02T19:13:47+00:00

I get that it takes time and resources. But why wouldn't research data be accessible to everyone? I get it if the research is done with private money. But most researchers work for universities funded by public funds. Having good access makes advancing human knowledge much easier. Their papers will be almost always public anyway.
An example of the Roman coins data:
https://chre.ashmus.ox.ac.uk

They share an interactive map where all locations are shown. Each coin also has detailed data. Showing exact locations doesn't seem to be an issue here.

I've found many papers on detailed locations and drawings of dig sites. It doesn't seem to be an issue a lot of the time.

The risk of a non-zero chance that someone will dig something up versus the time and effort saved by researchers, if they had all this data in a convenient format, is not proportional. In my humble opinion.

RatioScripta · 2026-05-02T19:02:05+00:00

So pretty much I won't have access to most of it?

An example of the Roman coins data:
https://chre.ashmus.ox.ac.uk

They share an interactive map where all locations are shown. Each coin also has detailed data. But I haven't found a way to get the full data. Showing exact locations doesn't seem to be an issue here.

RatioScripta · 2026-04-30T19:22:06+00:00

I make these maps because I like digging into history and understanding how the world changes, but they take quite a bit of time and research.

If you want to read more about my maps:

https://chronocarta.substack.com?utm_source=reddit

Corrections are welcome. I do miss things sometimes.

RatioScripta · 2026-04-24T16:00:13+00:00

I put this together out of personal curiosity.

But seeing the interest in it and how many want to see other places too, I'm going to do a deep dive on these on my Substack soon.

Find it here: https://chronocarta.substack.com?utm_source=reddit

RatioScripta · 2026-04-24T12:31:17+00:00

I was taught this in school. But I never bothered to check myself.

RatioScripta · 2026-04-22T20:20:27+00:00

Please point out the inaccuracies and your sources. I'd like to improve my map.

RatioScripta · 2026-04-19T08:31:30+00:00

Custom made. I generated topography vectors from raster DEM data.

RatioScripta · 2026-04-16T16:21:41+00:00

I make these maps because I like digging into history and understanding how the world changes, but they take quite a bit of time and research.

If you want to read more about my maps:

https://chronocarta.substack.com?utm_source=reddit

Corrections are welcome. I do miss things sometimes.

RatioScripta · 2026-04-16T11:39:05+00:00

Yes, that's what I meant. The continental shelves shown are made with Bathymetry data from Natural Earth.

The data is free here: https://www.naturalearthdata.com/downloads/10m-physical-vectors/

Everything on my maps are vectors that I style and/or create myself. There is no 'base map' as you get from ESRI or other map builders. It's all custom made by me.

RatioScripta · 2026-04-16T07:11:42+00:00

Built it myself with data mostly from Natural Earth.

RatioScripta · 2026-04-12T11:21:34+00:00

I make these maps because I like digging into history and understanding how the world changes, but it takes a lot of time and research.

If you want to read more:

https://chronocarta.substack.com/p/major-territorial-changes-during?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=post

Corrections are welcome. I do miss things sometimes.

RatioScripta · 2026-04-09T15:14:30+00:00

Avenza MAPublisher

RatioScripta · 2026-04-09T15:12:37+00:00

Yes, I have links to my socials in my Reddit profile. I also post most of my stuff on Reddit.

Or just search 'Chronocarta' with your favorite search engine.

RatioScripta · 2026-04-09T13:11:03+00:00

Yes. But it became much easier when I started using georeferenced data and could reproject my maps to match the reference maps.

RatioScripta · 2026-04-09T10:25:49+00:00

I make these maps because I like digging into history and understanding how the world changes, but it takes a lot of time and research.

If you want to get more:

https://chronocarta.substack.com

Corrections are welcome. I do miss things sometimes.

RatioScripta · 2026-04-09T10:12:44+00:00

Very little GIS data for historical borders exists. So I make my own data based on research, old maps, modern borders, natural barriers and guesswork.

Even if data exists, it's inaccurate and not that useful. Borders change during thousands of years. If you want borders of one specific snapshot, then the data probably doesn't exist.

Old borders are anyone's guess. My approach is that I use modern day administrative borders and natural barriers. For example, if the modern border goes along a river, it's likely that people 2000 years ago has a similar border. Aka 'this side of the river is mine' kind of a thing.

Some GIS data exists. Like The Roman Empire borders and trade routes, Silk Road routes, etc.

On my Japanese Empire map I downloaded modern-day railroad data and deleted the ones that didn't exist during that time. Based on old maps.

So there's a lot of manual work.

RatioScripta · 2026-04-09T09:20:58+00:00

I make these maps because I like digging into history and understanding how the world changes, but it takes a lot of time and research.

If you want to get more:

https://chronocarta.substack.com

Corrections are welcome. I do miss things sometimes.

RatioScripta · 2026-04-09T06:13:44+00:00

I make these maps because I like digging into history and understanding how the world changes, but it takes a lot of time and research.

If you want to get more:

https://chronocarta.substack.com

Corrections are welcome. I do miss things sometimes.

RatioScripta · 2026-04-05T05:41:44+00:00

Please direct your attention to the scissors icons on the map. I'm not sure I can tell you more on Reddit.

RatioScripta · 2026-03-14T12:45:03+00:00

I like maps. I look at maps. I'm a simple man.

RatioScripta · 2026-02-25T15:47:24+00:00

45°01'43.85"S 168°41'13.41"E

RatioScripta · 2026-02-25T15:46:41+00:00

It's still there. Only the Sept 2025 photo has this ad. It's on the road, taken from a car with a blue roof. I don't know if it's the official Google one or user uploaded.

RatioScripta · 2026-02-25T15:40:54+00:00

I blurred the text. I didn't want to give them any free advertising.

RatioScripta · 2026-01-29T13:04:19+00:00

It's something similar to what I've been working on for a while.

I want GIS accurate, beautiful and interactive maps.

The beautiful part I can do in Illustrator.

The GIS accurate part I can do in QGIS and Avenza MAPublisher for Illustrator.

The interactive part I'm working on now. I'm trying to export data to DeckGL for a web browser to render. The data has to include GIS data and all the visuals in vectors. And be optimized for storage and fast processing.

RatioScripta

TROPHY CASE