Digital Archaeological Archiving in Poland – SEADDA Cost Action and Beyond

During the SEADDA COST Action, the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Poland investigated the preservation of digital archaeological data. The main focus was on state heritage service, which operates within the binding legal framework. The study has revealed that, despite the digital shift observed in many areas of life, particularly since the pandemic, state services responsible for archaeological heritage are lagging behind. The lack of a dedicated repository that would enable access and re-use, and the absence of a long-term national strategy for the digitisation of archaeology- related administrative processes has resulted in data fragmentation and general inaccessibility. Heritage professionals across the country are not fully utilizing the potential of properly preserved advanced archaeological records. An analysis of archaeological archiving practices in state heritage services, combined with a European overview of the current situation, has allowed for the identification of various levels of an ideal digitisation strategy. This includes targeting law and policy makers, as expressed in the EAC’s ‘call for action’ (Novak et al. 2023), developing and implementing digital tools, and ensuring systematic training and contact points for users. These findings are universal; however, the paper will discuss their practical application in the Polish context and provide an update on the current state-of-the-art. *Nov.k, D., Oniszczuk, A. and Gumbert, B. 2023 Digital Archaeological Archiving Policies and Practice in Europe: the EAC call for action, Internet Archaeology 63. https://doi.org/10.11141/ia.63.7. Abstract taken from the EAA 2024 Abstract Book: 30th EAA Annual Meeting (Rome, Italy 2024) - Abstract Book Names, titles and affiliations are reproduced as submitted by the session organisers and/or authors. Language and wording of titles and abstracts were not revised. Technical editing: Sára Tylšová, Magda Karabáš (EAA) Design and layout: Sára Tylšová, Magda Karabáš (EAA) Design - cover: Symposia srl Design - logo: Caterina Amendola European Association of Archaeologists Rome, August 2024 © European Association of Archaeologists, 2024 ISBN 978-80-88441-08-3 30th EAA Annual Meeting (Rome, 2024) https://www.e-a-a.org/EAA2024/scientificprogramme