Abstract

Archaeologists have been storing all kinds of information into every conceivable computer data base for over 30 years. Not surprisingly, most of this information, painstakingly mannered in by keypunching or hand digitizing over the decades, is simply so much dead-storage now, destined for the great blue box of history. It is not to say that this information is unusable - it is just that the data are stored in some unique, often intricate way which the designer has long since abandoned and probably forgotten. This loss of past work is regrettable, but at least the original research information is still available in the form of field and lab notes and artifacts. Today, things are different. It is the rare archaeologist indeed who does not use a personal computer for a significant portion of their research. Archaeologists regularly catalogue their artifacts using their own custom computer databases, producing only a minimal paper record of their artifact descriptions. Important primary information can be found only on custom computer files. This information, possibly more important than the raw artifacts and catalogues which by law must be archived, consists of electronic field notes, computer-drawn maps and diagrams, digitized images and even sounds. These data are rarely considered for archiving. How can this information be saved from oblivion? Since it is all digital in form, one should be able to access the information via a computer link. The problem is, a standard is required which should establish how electronic archaeological information should be organized so that anybody using any kind of computer can access at least part of every record. This paper examines the kinds of digitally stored data that must be considered, describes a sample data structure that can accommodate the data types, and suggests national organizations which might be able to establish and maintain such an electronic standard.