Storymaps

Storymaps are a way of telling a temporal and spatial story on a map. These are web-based and generally one of the easiest ways to get started with mapping. If you are at all interested in maps, try StorymapJS. The Newberry Library, Chicago, has a great set of public-facing (and public-aimed) storymaps using this tool that indicate how it can be used for public history.

ArcGIS StoryMaps are a proprietary option developed by Esri. The University subscribes to ArcGIS, so you can choose between these two tools (and others) to find which fits your work best. Esri maintains a gallery of storymaps that offers examples. The Kingdom of Copper by Matthew D. Howland, Brady Liss, Mohammad Najjar, and Thomas E. Levy is a great example of how a high-quality storymap can contextualise archaeological findings and again aim at a wider public audience.

Whichever you choose, here are some tips to make a great storymap:

• Keep it fairly short. Between 10 and 20 slides for StorymapJS is a good number.
• Have a clear narrative. Storymaps are a storytelling tool as much as they are a digital mapping tool. A storymap should tell a clear and compelling narrative involving movement through space and time.
• Include all the key places. This helps show a clear progression through space as well as through time. If in doubt, test the map out with the less important place in, to see how well it works.
• Keep descriptions short. Descriptions will appear alongside the other elements you have chosen. Think of these as like the interpretations provided in exhibitions.
• Test different approaches. Sometimes, ideas that seemed perfect for this technology won't quite land, while others work perfectly. Try out some different ideas from your research.
• It's not just for maps! Some researchers have used this tech for other types of narrative. For example, the StorymapJS team produced some examples of their technology used to move around large artworks, jumping from one element to another.