A new online Toolkit providing resources to support the management and archiving of digital data on archaeological projects
Delivered by
CIfA are pleased officially launch a new Toolkit focused on supporting the management and archiving of digital data on archaeological projects - Dig Digital | Chartered Institute for Archaeologists.
Background
The question of how to manage archaeological digital data has been a hot topic for years – and with the support and expertise of organisations and colleagues across the historic environment sector, we have now developed a resource to help. In 2018, Historic England commissioned DigVentures, in partnership with CIfA, to review professional standards and current practice in relation to the creation and management of digital archives. This resulted in the creation of a new guidance document which outlines the how, what, who and when of digital data management in archaeological projects.
A suite of materials has been developed to accompany this providing up-to-date resources for those working with digital data through the delivery of archaeological projects. The primary aim is to support the production of complete, stable, ordered, and accessible archives that meet professional standards. The resources compiled are now finalised and we’re pleased to officially launch Dig Digital – a toolkit designed to help support those managing digital data.
The CIfA Standard underpinning archaeological archives has not changed, but updated guidance and the Dig Digital Toolkit recognises how current practice has developed. We hope that this resource will be useful to both organisations and individuals working with, managing, or monitoring digital data.
The resources available include
- a comprehensive guidance document, which forms part of the Archaeological Archives Forum’s ongoing series of practice guides for archives management aimed at practitioners
- the Dig Digital directory, providing a visual aid to the resource with live links to web-based materials
- the Digital health check questionnaire and action plan, is a great place to start and provides a way to review your current work processes and identify any actions or training requirements
- a Data management plan (DMP) checklist and editable template, the key to all your data management needs which includes a checklist of info to include and a worked example with embedded guidance. *Please note the use of DMPs is now recommended as part of the CIfA Standards and guidance.
- Several infosheets and quick guides, from museum specialists to local planning archaeologists, geophysicists to finds specialists and metadata to file naming, these short guides cover different aspects of digital data management across the historic environment sector.
Although the remit for the resource is focused on practice in England, differences across the UK regarding the management of archives and digital data were recognised as part of the survey and consultation feedback. An info sheet dedicated to practice across the UK is included as part of the resources.
The project team would like to thank Historic England for supporting the project, as well as all those who have contributed to surveys, joined our workshops, and provided feedback as the materials have been developed.
To get access all of these resources just head over to the website. Completing the digital health check is a great place to start, in addition to looking at the Dig Digital Directory.
If you have any feedback, comments or queries please email jen.parkerwooding@archaeologists.net
