As the number of historic environment repositories that curate digital archaeological archive grows, it can sometimes be confusing for a potential depositor to know which is the most appropriate for them. This guide is intended to help clarify who curates and accepts digital archives. Those organisations covered in this document are members of the Bedern Group and have signed up to the Bedern Declaration.
All the Bedern Group organisations are committed to the preservation of their digital collections and the provision of access to them. They accept archives from different parts of the UK, covering a wide chronological range, that record the influence of humans on the landscape and the development of material culture.
In line with traditional archive practice, all the archives have appropriate rights management procedures in place for both deposition and reuse, and retention and embargoes. While the archives have different architectures they all follow a migration approach to preservation, use core reference models such as the OAIS archival system and other agreed standards of recording.
The archives accept the full range of data types currently used in recording the historic environment; specific file formats that are accepted within the individual organisation are subject to change as technologies change, and a depositor should refer to the organisation’s guidelines.
Catalogues to all the data held by the organisations are freely available on line, but accessibility of the data sets themselves will differ between organisations from free open access online to access via enquiry staff. Some services will be chargeable.
| Agency |
Digital Archive |
Physical Documentary Archive |
Material Archive |
Geographical Remit |
Digital Collecting Remit |
Access and data delivery |
Contact details for deposit enquires |
|
Archaeology Data Service (ADS) |
|
UK, international works by UK based researchers |
All digital outputs from AHRC funded works, research, commercial and community works. Some HE-funded work |
Catalogue online; all data delivered online; open access with terms and conditions |
collections@archaeologydataservice.ac.uk |
||
|
Historic England (HE) |
|
|
England and territorial waters |
Outputs from HE and HE-funded projects, with priority for national or regional coverage and major monuments |
Catalogue online; some images online |
robert.dickinson@HistoricEngland.org.uk |
|
| Historic Environment Scotland |  |
|
Scotland and territorial waters. International for aerial photos |
Digital outputs from research, commercial and community works |
Catalogue online; images online |
collections@rcahms.gov.uk | |
|
Museum of London |
|
|
Greater London (32 Boroughs and the City) |
No longer collecting digital material |
Catalogue online; some images online |
? |
|
|
Northern Ireland Department of the Environment (NI DoE) |
|
|
Northern Ireland and territorial waters |
Digital outputs from research, commercial and community works |
Catalogue online; scanned file content online |
? |
|
|
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW) |
|
|
Wales and territorial waters |
Digital outputs from research, commercial and community works |
Catalogue online; Images, drawings, and text documents online |
gareth.edwards@rcahmw.gov.uk |