Decentralized Identity of Artifacts - System Architecture

This article investigates the requirements, key features and process flow of a Decentralized Identity of Artifacts (DIDoA) platform and proposes a novel system architecture based on blockchain. The proposed DIDoA system leverages the inherent strengths of blockchain technology - trust, security and transparency - to establish an immutable, tamper-proof record-keeping system for artifact history and ownership. This study utilizes a suite of tools and applications specifically designed to interact with the selected blockchain networks and associated DID functionalities. Our methodology involves creating an experimental setup that demonstrates the core functionality and processes of a DIDoA platform. We put the proposed DIDoA system architecture to the test by implementing the building blocks of the framework - Decentralized Identifiers (DID) and Verifiable Credentials (VC) - on the blockchain. We conclude our study by analyzing the results and showing the advantages, potential challenges and limitations of the proposed model. We also highlight the avenues for future research that remains to be completed. Safeguarding the authenticity and ownership of artifacts is essential for protecting our cultural heritage. The findings from this investigation will contribute to a broader and deeper understanding of DIDoA's functionality and processes, its implementation on various blockchain platforms and the potential impact on cultural heritage preservation efforts.