Transcript EAC Archaeological Archives Working Party

EAC
Archaeological Archives Working Party
Report on progress to date
Membership of the Working Party
Belgium
Czech Republic
France
Germany
Hungary
Iceland
Netherlands
Republic of Ireland
Slovakia
Switzerland
United Kingdom
5th Working Party Meeting
February 2009 in London
Working Party Aims


To link together in partnership EAC
member countries with an interest in
archaeological archives in order that
common policies and practice of mutual
benefit can be developed and applied.
To identify the courses of action
necessary to further best practice in the
field of archaeological archives and to
effect the means to achieve this action.
Agreed Common Definition of an
Archaeological Archive
Archaeological archives are all moveable
remains/heritage, data and documentation
from any archaeological observation or
intervention



An archaeological archive should be permanently
preserved in a recognised facility;
Every archaeological activity should aim to
produce a structured, complete, stable and
accessible archive;
Standards for the preparation and management
of the archaeological archive must be set out,
understood and agreed at the beginning of any
archaeological activity.
Discussion topics





Storage issues
Digital archives
Marine, coastal,
wetland archives
Selection,
retention and
dispersal
Archives – best
practice guidance
Digital Archives
Some Issues:
 Archive consideration at
outset of the work
 Security
 Active management and
repositories
 Inclusion in European
guidance of prime
importance
Selection, Retention, Dispersal
Controversial topic and the
group had lively debates!
Agreed that:
o Selection criteria must be set against
agreed research objectives
o Framework for selection will be included
in guidance setting out:
Selection, Retention, Dispersal





The case for and
policy on selection
procedures
The archaeological
process
Roles and
responsibilities
Decision making
points
Consultation
processes
Archaeological Archive Guidance







The project design is in
preparation as a Culture
2007-11 bid and will be
submitted this October
The guidance will contain:
A description of the
archaeological process;
its personnel, activities
and tasks
The standards for
archaeological archives
Selection and retention
Archive transfer
European variations
Liaison with Society of
American Archaeologists.





Organised very successful session on
archaeological archiving issues at the SAA
Conference in Vancouver last year
4 of our working party members gave
presentations.
This conference session is about to become an
SAA publication.
The SAA have supplied a representative to the
working party who is acting as a formal liaison
between the two groups.
The SAA hope to produce their own guidance
following the model we are developing and using
lessons learnt from our experiences.