The Archaeologist's Guide To Good Practice - Handbook

“矩阵”项目（AH/T002093/1）的工作已经确定了考古信息在数字档案中的存储方式存在的一些问题。在矩阵项目期间进行的咨询提供了反馈意见，即解决这些问题的集体方法将最有效地提供可持续和公平的结果。矩阵项目还确定了目前商业考古部门（甚至主要是学术界）缺乏数据管理计划（dmp）的使用，并确定了需要一套跨部门的通用程序，以反映和嵌入挖掘后分析工作的最佳实践，例如地层和年代数据的数据包。目前，没有一个单一的机构拥有足够的资源和全面的战略地位来调查和解决从事发展控制考古工作的不同考古机构所面临的数字存档问题。代表商业考古部门集体利益的最佳机构是FAME，考古经理和雇主联合会。该项目的目的是汇集英国主要考古承包商的集体专业知识，并与该部门的其他利益相关者协商，开展必要的可行性工作，组织必要的协作活动，以开发一种联盟方法、在线工具和资源，以支持这项工作的最佳工作实践。这项可行性研究将包括确定最合适的商业模式，以建立一个可持续的服务，以满足大型、中型和小型企业的业务需求，这些企业将考古实地工作作为开发控制过程的一部分。能否成功地实现数据的可持续性将取决于能否就挖掘后活动期间使用的共同进程和方法达成集体协议。Matrix项目使用地层和年代数据作为在考古数字数据管理中采用FAIR原则的测试案例。因此，该项目还将开展工作，为地层学和年代学方法和数据制定“实践守则”形式的文件，并就如何维持实践社区提出建议，以维护相关的最佳实践指导、电子学习资源和在线工具。为了使《工作守则》在全世界的考古实地工作中得到最广泛的应用，该项目的一部分工作还将涉及起草一项关于考古地层和年代方法和数据的国际公约。在过去的25年里，遗产部门和其他部门一直专注于如何将创建并存储在计算机上的数字数据保存到与英国实地工作产生并存放在英国博物馆的物理档案相同的程度，以便为后代造福。考古界对数字保存的兴趣尤其强烈，发掘数据越来越多地使用最新的计算机技术记录为“天生的数字”数据，即在计算机上创建、保存和使用的数据。考古学家特别关注确保挖掘的数字记录被安全地数字化存档和保存，以备将来的研究，因为考古挖掘不能重复。这种关注有助于解决“我们如何保持这些东西的数字化”这一主要问题。但是，尽管现在有完善的数字档案，如考古数据服务，他们的下一个挑战是，挖掘的数字记录，以及所有在分析和发布网站期间进行的额外工作，以解释和综合这些数据，是否以一种数据对档案馆和档案保持者以外的其他人最有用的方式保存和访问。

Work on The Matrix project (AH/T002093/1) has identified a number of issues with the way archaeological information is deposited in digital archives. Consultation carried out during the Matrix project has delivered feedback that a collective approach to tackling these issues would be most effective in delivering a sustainable and FAIR outcome. The Matrix project has also established a current lack of the use of Data Management Plans (DMPs) by the commercial archaeological sector (and even largely by academics) and identified a need for a cross-sector set of common procedures to reflect and enshrine best practice in post-excavation analysis work e.g. a data package for stratigraphic and chronological data. Currently no single body has the resources and over-arching strategic position to investigate and address the digital archiving issues facing the different archaeological bodies undertaking development control archaeological work. The best placed body to represent the collective interests of the commercial archaeology sector is FAME, the Federation of Archaeological Managers and Employers.The aim of this project is to draw together the collective expertise of the main archaeological contractors in the UK and, in consultation with other stakeholders from the sector, undertake the necessary feasibility work and organize the required collaborative activities to develop a consortium approach and online tools and resources to support best working practice for this work. This feasibility study will include identifying the most appropriate business model to build a sustainable service that will meet the business needs of the large, medium and small-scale enterprises that undertake archaeological fieldwork as part of the development control process.Success in achieving the sustainability of the data will depend upon a collective agreement on the common processes and methodologies used during post-excavation activities. The Matrix project has used stratigraphic and chronometric data as a test case for adoption of FAIR principles in archaeological digital data management. Therefore, this project will also undertake work to draw up documentation in the form of a 'Code of Practice' for Stratigraphic and chronological methods and data, and make recommendations for how a Community of Practice can be sustained for maintaining associated best practice guidance, e-learning resources and online tools going forward. To make the use of the Code of Practice most widely applicable across archaeological fieldwork worldwide, part of this project work will also involve the drafting of an International Convention on archaeological stratigraphic and chronological methods and data.In the last 25 years the Heritage sector and others have concentrated on how the digital data created and stored on computers can be preserved to the same degree that physical archives being produced by UK fieldwork and deposited with UK museums, can be kept for the benefit of future generations. This interest in digital preservation is especially strong in the archaeological world where excavation data are being increasingly recorded using the latest computer technologies as "born digital" data i.e. data created on, and only preserved and useable on a computer. Archaeologists, are particularly concerned to ensure that digital records of excavations are safely digitally archived and preserved for future research, because an archaeological excavation cannot be repeated. This focus has helped address the principle concerns about "how do we keep this stuff digitally". But although there are now well-established digital archives, such as The Archaeology Data Service, their next challenge is whether the digital records from excavations, and all the additional work carried out during analysis and publication of sites to interpret and synthesise such data, are preserved and accessible in a way that data is most useful to others beyond the archives and the archivist.