From Preservation to Action: How the ADS is Bridging the Data Reuse Gap

A presentation delivered in Session 14: Data Activism at the Theoretical Archaeology Group (TAG) conference 2025 in York, UK.

Abstract:

As the leading digital repository for archaeology and heritage in the UK, the core activity of the ADS is the long-term digital preservation of the data entrusted to our care and to disseminate this data in accordance with the FAIR data principles. Despite advances in making archaeological data Findable, Accessible and Interoperable, research on our collections suggests little reuse by our broad user community. This paper details the tangible ways the ADS encourages data reuse, from crafting more accessible collections, to facilitating research into understanding our audiences and diversifying the way that archaeological data can be reused. Moreover, we will present some of the ways that we are encouraging users to interact with our collections, by promoting the use of DOIs and launching new interfaces to interact with our data, so that we can better understand the ways that the collections we care for and ensure that they are as useful as possible for others. Most importantly, this paper will give the audience the chance to feedback your ideas and solutions — what aspects could we improve on and how could we make our collections more useful? Come and make your voice heard to help us improve for the future.