Archiving Digital Archaeological Data - Evaluation of a Survey in Germany

Archiving of digital research data according to established standards and methods is an important part of the research data lifecycle. It guarantees the long-term transparency and reusability of research results. This is especially important in the case of archaeological data where the preservation of unique and irreplaceable cultural heritage is paramount. To gain insight into the current state of affairs regarding long-term archiving in Germany, the SEADDA (Saving European Archaeology from the Digital Dark Age) COST Action and the Commission on Archaeology and Information Systems in the Association of German State Archaeologists, with the support of the IANUS Research Data Center of the DAI, conducted a survey in spring/summer 2021. This article presents the results of the survey along with recommendations for further and supporting measures aimed at improving the long-term archiving of digital archaeological data in Germany.