Implementation of Persistent Identifiers in the Archaeological Map of the Czech Republic: Challenges, Decisions, and Benefits

Since 2016, archaeological fieldwork data in the Czech Republic has been integrated into a unified information system, the Archaeological Map of the Czech Republic (AMCR). This system consolidates tools for managing archaeological fieldwork administration and serves as a digital repository for related research data. Subsequently, additional application modules have been developed, either directly integrated into AMCR or incorporated into the broader research infrastructure of the Archaeological Information System of the Czech Republic (AIS CR). As part of the ongoing adaptation of the AMCR repository to international best practice, various types of persistent identifiers (PIDs) were implemented in 2025. These include DOI for documentation, ORCID and Wikidata for users and other individuals, and IGSN for archaeological finds and sites. This paper presents a practical case study of the implementation process, highlighting the challenges, key decisions and resulting benefits for users. In addition, the paper emphasises the importance of viewing PIDs as an integral part of a wider network of digital records relating to the archaeological heritage. Within AMCR, the standard assignment of PIDs has unlocked hundreds of thousands of digital objects, making them more accessible to users, ensuring their consistent and persistent identification, and enabling their use in a variety of contexts. This includes assessing the impact of archaeological research and giving appropriate credit to individual researchers throughout the research process.