The SEADDA project is a collaboration between 35 countries and aims to save digital data on archaeological tasks in the long term, is closely linked to the ARIADNEplus program. Heritage protection tasks generate an astonishing amount of digital data in a myriad of formats. Digital data is inherently fragile and not resilient. As these records are the only written evidences of what happened during the excavations of archaeological sites or other heritage protection activities, these records should be preserved for posterity and made digitally reproducible, processable and, where appropriate, reinterpretable. The FAIR management principle of the data (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) is key in the reusability of the data.

We use a variety of software and hardware to generate and process our data in order to interpret them through various databases or to create virtual models. We use a multitude of devices to record data from the camera to LIDAR to satellites. However, in order for the information to be reused and verifiable, it is essential to preserve the original formats. This requires specialized knowledge, as digital archives need to be created that can store and process a wide variety of data with long-term, loss-free preservation. Most European countries do not yet have a proper archiving system in place, although the extremely rapid change in software and hardware also brings forward the end of many digital formats. Think of how much unrepeatable archaeological data can be lost because of this, and how many millions of euros worth of work by thousands of archaeologists at European level could be wasted simply because we did not think in time to save the data properly! That is why ensuring the availability of archaeological data is also a priority at European level, but this cannot be achieved without appropriate digital repositories.

Shortcomings in the various national databases and repositories became apparent through ongoing projects such as ARIADNE, Fasti Online and Pelagios Commons. These projects have highlighted that we can move out of the “digital dark age” by providing personalized, targeted assistance according to the needs and regulations of a given institution or country. The SEADDA project has created an international network of researchers to map the archiving and dissemination of digital archaeological data. Archaeologists and experts specializing in digital data preservation are working together to develop digital archiving standards and recommendations, as well as provide education for those who want to create an internationally standardized and accredited digital archaeological archive.

COST Action SEADDA (CA18128) is funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union.

Duration: 02/01/2019 - 01/02/2023

More information: https://www.seadda.eu/
PARTHENOS
PARTHENOS - Guidelines for the reusability of scientific data and the management of FAIR in Hungarian: https://zenodo.org/record/3363355#.XpnzeJNfd0t
Fasti Online
Pelagios Commons
Twitter

COST Action SEADDA (CA18128) is funded by
the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union.