Digital archaeology archives in Portugal

Abstract

Archaeology produces large quantities of data, much of it already in a born-digital format. The preservation of these data is vital, as they result from unrepeatable actions, and access to and sharing of these data are the engine of research activities and knowledge development. The creation of archaeological data repositories, in addition to safeguarding data, is a valuable step in supporting research, but it requires a series of work processes, namely data standardisation and use of common nomenclatures, so published data are findable and reusable. The creation of an archaeological data repository for Portugal is a fundamental requirement. It would allow the safeguarding of data resulting from archaeological fieldwork, along with those resulting from research, making them findable, accessible and liable to be used in future research or even to be re-analysed using new technologies and tools. This article presents the evolution of the digitisation of archaeological information in Portugal, the responsibilities for its production and safeguarding, as well as the steps to be followed for its availability in a data repository.