Workshop: Archaeological Data Management and Archiving

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Archaeology is in a special position with respect to archiving because archaeological fieldwork, which creates archaeological data, also destroys the primary in situ archaeological evidence itself. Increasingly, the digital record may be the only source of information about archaeological research materials. It is essential, therefore, that the digital records that describe archaeological resources be made accessible and that their preservation be ensured.

The importance of good data management practices and quality metadata cannot be overstressed as digital repositories rely on this structured information to catalogue and organise data so it can be preserved and reused by others. This practical workshop will provide attendees the opportunity to explore examples of both good and bad datasets to understand the impact bad data management can have on the reuse potential of datasets.