Digital repositories in archaeology

Abstract

During the last two decades, several tools have transformed the Brasil’s digital landscape. This trajectory is the result of a broad digital transformation program, whose foundations date back to the early 2000s. We focus here on some tools and problems particularly related to the scientific production in Brazil, especially in Archaeology, which is also undergoing a digital transformation, albeit an incomplete one. This work highlights how problems linked to a lack of planning for digital preservation and sovereignty, whether in the short or the long term, directly affect research and Brazilian archaeological heritage. We identify the main data storage repositories used by public universities over the last two decades, as well as those used by heritage institutions (IPHAN and museums) and by users and researchers in general. We review the main platforms used to store different kinds of files and assess whether they are public or private, local or global. Finally, we analyze ways to overcome these challenges and identify the need for integrated planning that incorporates digital resources into cultural and heritage preservation strategies.