Evaluating a Cooperative Approach to the Management of Digital Archaeological Records

Project Synopsis: The DoD needs efficient access to data from archaeological surveys to prevent sudden site discoveries that delay mission-oriented projects. The proposed project will address this need by partnering with an online archive founded by Digital Antiquity called The Digital Archaeological Record (DA-tDAR) to upload digital files from archaeological projects at over 20 DoD installations in Maryland and Virginia. Files that pass security screening will be available through one searchable repository on the web. A report about this pilot project will include 1) security protocols to prevent public access to sensitive data, 2) a cost-benefit study comparing the use of one centralized digital repository to multiple data management systems, 3) suggested language for addressing digital data in scopes of work for archaeological projects, and 4) an analysis of DA-tDAR as a partner digital repository for the DoD. The guidance in the report for archeological digital data management will be relevant DoD-wide.