AGLAIA: developing an international sign glossary for inclusive archaeological heritage

Ensuring equitable access to cultural heritage remains a major challenge for digital research infrastructures, particularly for users with special needs. Despite advances in digital tools and platforms, Deaf communities are still often excluded from fully engaging with archaeological knowledge and museum interpretation due to the lack of accessible resources and shared terminology in sign languages. Within this context, AGLAIA – ARIADNE Glossary in Italian Sign Language (LIS) and International Sign (IS) for Archaeology is an initiative led by ARIADNE Research Infrastructure and developed within the framework of the European project ATRIUM, where accessibility and engagement with non-professional communities are key priorities. AGLAIA aims to provide a curated and validated glossary of archaeological terms in LIS and IS to support inclusive guided tours, museum interpretation, and educational activities. AGLAIA was developed as part of the ATRIUM project, with the support of the international ARIADNE network, which brings together nearly 40 archaeological institutions worldwide. An initial corpus of approximately 200 specialised terms was identified across five conceptual areas (methodological approaches, artefacts and materials, cultural and social concepts, analytical frameworks, and chronological contexts). From this corpus, a scientific committee selected 50 key terms considered essential for public communication in museums and archaeological sites. These terms were prioritised for their ability to convey conceptual meaning without excessive technical complexity, ensuring both clarity and usability in real-world contexts. The development process followed a co-creation approach involving domain experts, accessibility specialists, Deaf translators, and sign-language interpreters. This methodology ensured scientific accuracy while addressing the communicative needs of end users. Within this framework, International Sign plays a central role in the initiative. It is not a fully standardised language, but rather an auxiliary communication system used in international contexts to facilitate understanding among signers who do not share a common national sign language. The resulting materials are currently available as openly accessible video resources on the ARIADNE Research Infrastructure YouTube channel, organised into dedicated playlists for LIS and IS. In addition, the glossary is being deposited in Zenodo, where persistent identifiers (PIDs) are assigned to the deposited materials to support long-term access, citation, and reuse. The initiative is designed to support both Deaf users and sign-language interpreters, particularly in contexts where specialised archaeological terminology is required. It has already been presented at the ATRIUM public event held during tourismA (Florence, 2026), where it was introduced to cultural heritage professionals, researchers, and Deaf participants, receiving very positive and enthusiastic feedback from end users. AGLAIA demonstrates how digital infrastructures, community engagement, and accessibility expertise can converge to create inclusive knowledge resources. Its impact extends beyond individual visitor experiences, offering a scalable model for cultural institutions and research projects seeking to integrate accessibility into their digital strategies. The approach developed in AGLAIA can be adapted to other specialised domains, contributing to a broader transformation in how knowledge is produced, communicated, and accessed within Europe’s cultural heritage landscape.