As part of the ADS’ commitment to promote good practice in the preservation, curation and use of digital data, we are able to offer training for undergraduate and postgraduate level archaeology degrees in the UK and abroad. This contribution may be as simple as a guest lecture by an ADS member of staff to more comprehensive involvement such as designing and delivering content for specific modules alongside academic staff members. ADS staff members are well experienced in delivering high quality teaching and learning for the higher education sector. This content can be delivered in person or online.

Examples of training that we can provide include:

• Undergraduate teaching in digital data for archaeology (see below)
• Postgraduate teaching in data management planning for archaeological research
• Content for  Doctoral research training programmes

Below is an example of an undergraduate level training course that was delivered by ADS staff at a UK based higher education institution. This course or similar content can be provided to university students across the UK at the request of individual institutions.

This course can be provided to university students across the UK at the request of individual institutions. The information below provides an example of training content that the ADS can provide. Training can be adapted to suit individual requirements. Please contact us to discuss further.

Digital data and the archaeological record

Abstract

This session introduces the importance of digital preservation for archaeology, the history of the ADS, and good practice guidelines for digital data management and preservation. This will be followed by a computer based practical where students are asked to extract information from a digital archive. The purpose of the practical is to highlight the importance of good data management planning and practice.

By the end of the session participants will be expected to:

• Understand the importance of good data management practices.
• Understand the importance of digital preservation for the long term safety of archaeological data.
• Understand the principles of best practice in file formats and metadata.
• Have a working knowledge of what a good archive should include.

Course resources

Presentations

• Digital Data and the Archaeological Record presentation by Teagan Zoldoske, ADS.

Example archive

• Archive Access Practical: archive with poor management planning.
• Archive Access Example: Denisova 11 Human Bone Fragment.
• Archive Access Example: ForSEAdiscovery.

Further reading

Data management plan

• Data Management Plan  example
• The Digital Curation Center’s DMP checklist
• The Digital Curation Center’s Online Management Plan.

Metadata and data formats

• The ADS Preferred and Accepted File Formats and Metadata templates
• Library of Congress Recommended Formats Statement
• Heritage Data Vocabularies

Selection

• ADS Selection and Retention Guidelines
• The Digital Curation Center’s Selection and Retention Guidelines
• CIFA Archives Group Selection Toolkit for Archaeological Archives.

Archaeological archive standards and guidelines

• Guides to Good Practice
• ARCHES Archaeological Resources in Cultural Heritage a European Standard website
• Archaeological Archives: A guide to best practice in creation, compilation, transfer and curation

Digital preservation

• Digital Preservation Coalition