Conference Agenda

Archaeologists have long recognized the need to preserve their data. The shift to digital over the past nearly half-century should offer many advantages, especially when adhering to FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles. However, many organizations and projects still face challenges. For instance, legacy datasets on paper or created using now-outdated technologies still need to be converted, requiring both time and money. Born-digital assets also need to be maintained and updated. In the current political climate, publicly-accessible and publicly-funded datasets are also under threat from a variety of factors, including abrupt staff departures, rescinded funding, and agency realignments. This panel, which will bring together experts representing different types of organizations and serving in a variety of capacities, will provide perspectives on the current state of digital data management and preservation in the field in addition to discussing steps to address the needs of the future.