Reviewed by Hugh Jarvis, hjarvis@acsu.buffalo.edu
Anthropology Department, University at Buffalo

Abstract: The Stratigraphic Nomenclature Databases for the United States, Its Possessions, and Territories, known as DDS-6, is a CDRom product containing stratigraphic information of the United States Geological Survey. Archaeologists will benefit from the wealth of geological information it contains on major formations of the continental United States.

The Stratigraphic Nomenclature Databases for the United States, Its Possessions, and Territories, abbreviated to DDS-6, is a CDRom product, containing stratigraphic information of the United States Geological Survey. It is essentially a dump from the databases of stratigraphic information compiled on U.S. geology over the past sixty years. DDS-6 was originally established for the use of United States Geological Survey staff members. Later it was released for the use of professional geologists, but archaeologists will benefit from it too.

DDS-6 actually consists of two different, overlapping catalogs, GEONAMES and GNULEX, which both contain information about most major formations of the US states, territories, and possessions, as included in published or in-preparation USGS Reports. While the information is extensive, it should also be noted that the files on DDS-6 were actually downloaded in March of 1994, while the masters have been updated daily since. The Survey intends to periodically release updates. This CD-ROM package was designed and programmed by C.C. Abston.

There are actually three GNULEX databases, short for Geologic Names Unit Lexicon, created to help members of the Geologic Names Unit access information relating to the "definition, modification and use of stratigraphic unit names" during the manuscript review process. All told, GNULEX is a compilation of information on over 10,000 individual stratigraphic rock units based on records maintained separately in the three USGS district offices, Menlo Park, CA (Western Region), Denver, CO (Central Region), and Reston, VA (Eastern Region, Territories and Possessions).

Not all the GNULEX unit records are complete, but they represent the level of completion expressed in the literature. The format presents two types of information, current usage and historical record of usage. The three regions overlap slightly, typically whenever a unit crosses political boundaries. Most of the units are recognised formally by geologists, although some informal names that had long been in common usage or had stratigraphic importance were included as well.

DDS-6 is intended as to be used for information search and retrieval. GNULEX records can be isolated by geographic name, stratigraphic rank, geologic age, geologic province, State, author, and lithology, as well as a list of specified keywords (such as "age modified" and "renamed"). A nice feature allows search categories to be combined. Results are sent to a temporary file which can be viewed, saved to a named file, or dumped to a printer.

GEONAMES is an annotated lexicon of formal geological names, a separate "concise database" maintained by the Reston Office, including records again for all states, possessions, and territories. In all, GEONAMES contains over 30,000 records representing more than 18,000 individual names. Multiple records occur for units which transcend political boundaries, or geological age divisions, or which have more than one usage. The database was previously released on 5.25 inch diskette in 1988 and 1990 open-file reports.

GEONAMES records may be retrieved by geographic name, State, geologic age or province, or lithology. Again, search results can be viewed, output to a file, or printed. Additionally, because the record field lengths are fixed-format and standardised codes are used, the whole file is well-suited for export to a database.

DDS-6 is designed primarily for PC-DOS users, but is accessible to any systems, including the Macintosh, which are compatible with the ISO 9660 standard. PC users will need at least DOS Version 5.0, 640 KB RAM, Microsoft MSCDEX Version 2.0, an ISO 9660 software driver, EGA/VGA graphics, and at least 2 MB free hard drive space (7.5 MB is preferable for faster information retrieval). DDS-6 does not support a mouse but it will run within Windows if you set it up right.

Installation is simple and takes but a few minutes. No changes are made to system files. While only two batch and four temporary files must be placed on your hard drive (requiring a maximum of about 2 MB), DDS-6 runs fastest with the installation of additional files to a subdirectory (another 5.5 MB). Extensive background and technical overview files are included on the CD-ROM, as well as a tutorial with instructions that take you through a sample search. (One note of caution: the temporary files that DDS-6 uses are called temp1 through temp4. If you, like me, already use files or directories with those names, DDS-6 will not run!)

Operation is straight-forward and menu-driven in DOS. Once the program is running, a matter of selecting which database to work in, you choose search parameters. Searching goes swiftly and the information is presented in a user-friendly format. There are, however, a few unfriendly details. Once you retrieve a group of items, you must look at each separately, then return to the main list of display formats and select a new item to view.

DDS-6 is very handy, despite being slightly awkward at times, and attractively priced. It provides an ideal means for archaeologists to easily access crucial information about the rock formations from which all our lithic artifacts (and data) are derived.

DDS-6 is $35.00 from the USGS Bookstore, or check on-line at http://www.usgs.gov/reports/digital_data_series/DDS-6/DDS-6.html where the files (about 16MB!) may be available for free.