Digital Archives in Archaeology - announcing a new project to help manage archaeological archives

The question of how to handle digital archive data has been a hot topic in archaeology for years – and now we're doing something about it

CIfA is pleased to announce the launch of a new project ‘Digital Archives in Archaeology’, funded by Historic England. The project is being delivered by DigVentures and CIfA over the next few months, and we are keen for you to get involved.

The project has been initiated by the Archaeological Archives Forum to develop up-to-date guidance for everyone working with digital data in archaeological projects. The DigVentures team will be working with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists to produce guidance as part of the Archaeological Archives Forum series for archives management. The guidance will be aimed at practitioners and will provide support to those using digital data in archaeology projects. CIfA’s Standards and Guidance will be updated as part of the project to ensure consistency between practice guidance and regulation.

The project team are keen to reach everyone who should know about the project and, in order to make sure the project delivers what the sector needs, the DV team are setting up a #DigDigital Beta Group of practitioners who want to take part and contribute. #DigDigital Beta Group members will be invited to respond to surveys, read drafts and contribute to ongoing discussions about digital archives in archaeology. There will be opportunities to respond to project surveys and discussions but the role of the group is to provide a sense of the everyday experience of people working in archaeology. If you know anyone else who should be part of that group, please let them know – they can sign up via the webpage link below.

To find out more about the project or to sign up to the #DigDigital Beta Group, please see the project announcement and take a look at our webpage

We would be grateful if you could circulate information about the project to any colleagues who might be interested – and, if you have any specific questions about the project, just contact Manda Forster (manda [at] digventures.com) directly.