Innovations in Archaeological Data: Key Developments at the DANS Data Station

An Overview of Achieved Results, Current and Future Developments

DANS has made great strides in further improving the Data Station Archaeology. Since its launch, we have significantly expanded our Data Station with new functionalities that increase the usability and findability of archaeological data. These include map-based searching, full-text indexing, 3D data, and automated archiving via updated protocols. In doing so, we are actively responding to the needs of the community – from researchers to heritage professionals – and working on sustainable solutions for the future.

The Data Station Archaeology’s Importance to the Community

With the Data Station Archaeology, we hold a vital position within the national archaeological community in the Netherlands. With 160,000 datasets, it ranks among the largest archaeological data archives worldwide. The collection includes survey and excavation documentation, such as reports, photographs, tables, and field drawings. This information is all that remains after an excavation and is essential for future researchers who can reuse, link, analyse, and disseminate these datasets. A wealth of information is thus immediately and publicly accessible.

Twenty Years of DANS: New Recognition and Growth

Since 2007, sustainable accessibility has been guaranteed through the Kwaliteitsnorm Archeologie (KNA), with DANS playing a pivotal role through the establishment of the e-depot for Dutch archaeology. The Heritage Act and the Professional Archaeology Guidelines support the certification system in archaeology.

Recently, the Data Station Archaeology has received the highest classification within the EU as a trustworthy repository and has been certified with an international archival standard. This is a significant milestone that not only confirms that DANS meets the highest standards but also strengthens its role as a national centre of expertise and repository. As the responsible body for the e-depot for Dutch archaeology, we securely store research data in a certified long-term archive. Digital reports and underlying datasets are converted to a sustainable format and stored.

New Data Forms: Growth in 3D and Better Support

We are increasingly receiving 3D datasets, such as this beautiful altar stone from Rome with a funerary inscription, which is now part of the collection of the Huis van het Boek in The Hague. The number of 3D objects is growing rapidly, and in response to this development, a new guide is now available, outlining the steps for depositing 3D data with us.

Future-Focused Innovation: Searching and Finding on the Map

This year, we are working hard to expand the Data Station Archaeology with new functionalities, such as the ability to search and find data on the map. This will transform the Data Station from merely a storage repository into a powerful research tool.

We have assessed what geometry needs to be recorded in the Data Station and how we can make relevant metadata visible on a user-friendly map. The ability to perform spatial selections is essential in the field to obtain the necessary information. This development will make it easier to visually find, compare, and use data – something many users have explicitly requested. By improving metadata with spatial references, linking data from other sources, and providing a geographic vocabulary, search and find capabilities will be greatly enhanced.

Improved Searchability: Standardised Terms and Full-Text Search

In addition to new search methods, the technical searchability of the Data Station has been improved. It is necessary to develop integrated workflows between different parties to enrich data and search results, simplifying the process of data input and output. The large-scale exchange of research data is a key component of Open Science.

In addition to the searchability of datasets with facets based on controlled vocabularies (standards), the data is now fully indexed. Users can now search not only using terms from the Archaeological Basic Register (ABR) but also terms from the Art and Architecture Thesaurus (AAT). This addition – at the request of the heritage sector – is an example of how we continue to align with community-specific needs.

Automated Archiving: Collaboration with Archeodepot and RCE

To further improve usability for the archaeological practice, we have delivered an updated SWORD protocol. This allows archaeologists to automatically archive the data they provide to the provincial Archeodepot system in the Data Station Archaeology. We also automatically receive PAN data from the RCE to make it sustainably available.

These new technical connections form the backbone for more efficient collaboration and sustainable archiving – both nationally and internationally. The data of Dutch archaeologists is offered through us to European portals such as Europeana and ARIADNE.

High-Quality Data Gems: FAIR and Future-Proof

FAIR data is made available, with the data receiving a sustainable link (PID), metadata enriched using controlled vocabularies, clear access licenses facilitating reuse, and technical work on control mechanisms, versioning, and sustainable storage.

We continue to build a future-proof platform, where the needs of archaeologists, researchers, and policymakers are central. The balance between reliable storage, broad accessibility, and technical innovation remains the core of our work.