The Archive Cube: An Innovative Visualization Approach Illustrated through the Roman Catholic Church

aAdrian Meßmer,

 aDepartment of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany;  

a*adrian.messmer@fu-berlin.de / adrian-messmer@gmx.de

Adrian Meßmer, a graduate student in Natural Sciences at the Free University of Berlin, presents a creative idea he conceived alongside his academic pursuits. While working on his citizen science-project on schools, I found himself intrigued by the concept of multidimensional archival visualization for the results of citizen science-data and findings. This led him to develop the “Archive Cube”, an approach aimed at representing data in a novel manner.

Since 2020, I have been immersed in earthworm research, culminating in the development of a citizen science project for earthworm monitoring in schools. Building upon this experience, he delved into the intricacies of ecological group identification using colour scales. Inspired by his diverse interests and fuelled by a desire for exploration, I ventured into the realm of the Archive Cube as his creative outlet.

With a sense of curiosity and a touch of whimsy, I invite readers to join him on this playful journey of discovery. While the “Archive Cube” may be a simple idea conceived for enjoyment rather than academic rigor, its potential to spark imagination and stimulate discussion has potential. Through this light-hearted exploration, I hopes to inspire others to embrace creativity and innovation in their scholarly endeavours.

The Archive Cube: An Innovative Visualization Approach Illustrated through the Roman Catholic Church

In this paper, I propose a novel approach to archival visualization, exemplified through the exploration of Roman Catholic history. The concept centres around the creation of an "Archive Cube", a versatile tool designed to represent historical events across multiple dimensions. While the focus is on Roman Catholic history, this method is adaptable and can be applied to various domains, including corporate profiling, citizen science-data and beyond. It's important to note that this paper is meant to be a light-hearted exploration of an idea, rather than a formal academic study. By presenting events within the Roman Catholic Church as a case study, I illustrate the effectiveness of the Archive Cube in capturing and analysing complex narratives. Through this work, I seek to introduce and generalize the concept of multidimensional archival visualization, fostering interactive understanding and exploration of historical events across diverse dimensions.

Keywords: Archive Cube, archival visualization, historical visualization, multidimensional analysis, temporal dynamics, spatial patterns, intensity analysis, historical narratives, interactive understanding.

Introduction

The conventional approach to historical visualization often falls short in capturing the intricate of events, actors, and contexts that shape our understanding of the past. As an alternative, I present the concept of an "Archive Cube", a dynamic tool for multidimensional archival visualization. While inspired by Roman Catholic history, the Archive Cube transcends specific domains, offering a versatile framework for exploring and analysing historical data across diverse contexts. It is important to note that this paper is intended as a light-hearted exploration of an idea rather than a serious academic endeavour. This paper aims to introduce and generalize the concept of archival visualization, emphasizing its potential for interactive exploration and analysis. Through the exploration of Roman Catholic history as a case study, I demonstrate the effectiveness of the Archive Cube in capturing the complexity of historical narratives.

The Archive Cube

At its core, the Archive Cube is a multidimensional visualization tool designed to represent historical events in a holistic manner. The cube's three axes correspond to time, space, and intensity, in this example (see Figure 1) and enable users to navigate through historical data with unprecedented depth and granularity. Each axis provides a unique perspective, allowing researchers to uncover patterns, correlations, and anomalies that may not be apparent in traditional representations. The x-axis describes the date, the y-axis the intensity and the z-axis the location of the event. The graphics were generated using R version 4.2.3, utilizing the following packages for visualization: readxl (Wickham H, Bryan J, 2023). , dplyr (Wickham H, et. al, 2023), and plotly (Plotly Technologies Inc., 2015). The data set was randomized from AI-generated events.
Figure 1. Example perspective on an archive cube with the axes intensity date and location of various events in the Roman Catholic Church.

Testing Temporal Axis:

The temporal axis (x) of the Archive Cube captures the chronology of events, spanning from the earliest recorded occurrences to the present day. By visualizing events along this axis, researchers and nonprofessionals can observe and discover trends, cycles, and evolutionary trajectories within historical narratives. Moreover, the temporal dimension facilitates the identification of temporal clusters and periodicities, shedding light on recurring patterns and historical contingencies.

Figure 2. Archive cube excerpt example with the focus in three-dimensional space at the high intensity of the birth of Jesus Christ (-4) as high intensity (10) and indicated in the land of Israel

Figure 3. An unimportant AI-generated event

Spatial Axis:

In addition to temporal dynamics, the Archive Cube incorporates a spatial axis (z) that contextualizes events within geographical landscapes or locations. By mapping events onto this axis, researchers and non-professionals can playfully discover and discern spatial patterns, diffusion processes, and regional variations across different locales. Furthermore, the spatial dimension enables the exploration of spatial dependencies, interactions, and networks that shape historical developments.

Figure 3. Example of an intermediate important (6) event of the separation between the Western and Eastern churches in Turkey in 1054

Intensity Axis:

The intensity axis (y) of the Archive Cube measures the significance or impact of events, ranging from minor occurrences to transformative milestones. By assigning intensity values to events, researchers can discern critical junctures, tipping points, and watershed moments that shape the course of history. Moreover, the intensity dimension facilitates comparative analyses, highlighting disparities in historical agency, resilience, and consequence. In this example, insignificant events were automatically generated by artificial intelligence on a scale of 1 to 3, as shown in Figure 3.

Figure 4. Rotation and turning of the axes to create a different relationship perspective.

Conclusion

As I conclude our playful journey through the world of archival visualization, let us remember that the Archive Cube is more than just a concept—it is an invitation to think differently about how we engage with historical data and develop our perspective in space and time. While this playful paper may not offer definitive answers or solutions, it serves as a testament to the power of imagination and creativity in shaping our understanding of the past, present and future. Moving forward, let us continue to explore new horizons and push the boundaries of what is possible in historical inquiry. After all, the pursuit of knowledge is as much about asking questions and exploring possibilities as it is about finding answers. Maybe these answers already exist, maybe other people are already using them, but I just made the effort here for the fun of it.

Discussion

In this discussion, I delve into the implications and potential of the Archive Cube as a novel approach to archival visualization. While this paper was conceived as a creative exploration, it is essential to consider the serious implications of multidimensional archival representation of all type. The Archive Cube offers a unique lens through which to examine historical narratives, enabling me to uncover hidden patterns, connections, and insights across multiple dimensions. By integrating temporal, spatial, and thematic dimensions, this approach fosters a deeper understanding of historical phenomena and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration. Through the case study of Roman Catholic history, I have demonstrated the utility of the Archive Cube in capturing the complexity and nuance of historical events. While I present the Archive Cube as a potential new variant in archival visualization, I recognize that further validation and exploration are necessary to determine its efficacy and applicability across diverse contexts. As I reflect on the implications of the Archive Cube, it is crucial to acknowledge its limitations and areas for future research. While the multidimensional nature of the Archive Cube offers a wealth of possibilities, it also presents challenges in terms of data integration, visualization techniques, and user interface design. Moreover, questions regarding data ethics, accessibility, and interpretation warrant further consideration in the development and implementation of archival visualization tools. In conclusion, while this paper began as a creative endeavour, it underscores the importance of imagination and innovation in historical inquiry. The Archive Cube could be a promising avenue for advancing my understanding of the past, offering a dynamic and immersive approach to archival visualization. As I continue to refine and expand this framework, let me remain mindful of the transformative potential of multidimensional archival representation in shaping my interpretation of history.  Further goals would be a multidimensional archive sphere that can represent more complex topics in context. One possibility of implementation would also be to make the citizen science data of my work accessible online as a three-dimensional archive. The latest VR and 3D technology could make it easier for pupils and teachers to gain an insight into the work of science (see Figure 4).