Archaeology Data Protocol

Archaeology Data Protocol v.1.0

Download here the DMP Archaeology Data Protocol template

1. Data description and collection or reuse of existing data

1.a. How will new data be collected or produced and/or how will existing data be reused?

1a.1. The research team has checked whether previous data on the subject of the research exist that can be reused. If this is the case, such data will be reused, respecting licenses and applicable constraints, including intellectual property rights.

Guidance

Comply Not applicable (no reusable data exist)

In case of non-compliance:
State the reasons why re-use of existing data has been considered but was discarded.

1a.2. The provenance of reused data will be duly described and in publications the original data owners will be gracefully acknowledged.

Guidance

Comply Not applicable (no reusable data exist)

Optional:
Describe where existing data come from and how they can be accessed.

1a.3. For fulfilling the research objectives, the data collection uses methods and tools appropriate for the research design, and will follow good practices in archaeology.

Guidance

Comply

Optional:
Describe methods and tools for data collection or production.

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1.b. What data (for example the kinds, formats, and volumes) will be collected or produced?

1b.1. The research team will make sure that the hardware and software needed for the data storage and processing are available.

Guidance

Comply

Optional:
Provide an estimate of the volume of data to be collected/processed.

1b.2 The types of data to be collected and their associated formats will comply with widely used standards in archaeology.

Guidance

Comply

Optional:
Describe or list what data types will be generated (for example numeric, textual, audio, or video) and their associated data formats.

1b.3. The research team will make sure that any proprietary file formats can be converted to non- proprietary and open formats (or ‘preferred formats’ in accordance with requirements of the repository where the data will be stored for sharing).

Guidance

Comply

In case of non-compliance:
Provide details on proprietary formats

2. Documentation and data quality

2.a. What metadata and documentation will accompany the data?

2a.1. The data will be described by metadata and documented in sufficient detail for other researchers to identify, discover and understand the data, so that replication of the research results and reuse of the data will be possible.

Guidance

Comply

Optional:
Outline the documentation needed to enable data reuse

2a.2. The data description and additional documentation will comply with metadata standards that are widely used in archaeology, or with the metadata guidelines and schema of the repository where the data will be stored.

Guidance

Comply

Optional:
• Provide reference to the metadata standard used
• State where the metadata and documentation will be recorded
• Indicate how the data will be organised during the project

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2b. What data quality control measures will be used?

2b.1 To guarantee data quality, the research team will apply community approved national and international quality norms or, where these are absent, the team will apply a well-established general quality assurance method and adhere to standard guidelines to implement these.

Guidance

Comply

Optional:
Describe (or refer to) quality norms, good practices and/or methods that guarantee the quality of the data collection and processing

2b.2 Quality targets and guidelines for data collection will be explicitly formulated and documented by the research team.

Guidance

Comply

Optional:
Specify (or refer to) quality targets and guidelines to guarantee quality of data collection and processing

2b.3. In case sampling or selection methods of research areas or other units apply, the sampling/selection design will be carefully documented, including any departures in the field, so that users will be well-informed about a possible bias in the results of the data collection.

Guidance

Comply Not applicable (no sampling or selection methods applied)

Optional:
If applicable, specify sampling or selection methods to be used

3. Storage and backup during the research process

3a. How will data and metadata be stored and backed up during the research?

3a.1. During the research process, data will be organised and stored in line with good professional practices in archaeology and/or with the institutional guidelines for RDM of the home institution.

Guidance

Comply

In case of non-compliance:
Explain why institutional storage guidelines can/will not be used and specify storage locations, media, and procedures for data that will be used during the research activities.

3a.2. A version control mechanism will be used and all changes to the raw data will be duly documented.

Guidance

Comply

In case of non-compliance:
Explain how modifications of the raw data will be documented.

3a.3. The research team will determine and implement a data backup and recovery plan, making an informed choice of backup media and mechanisms.

Guidance

Comply

Optional:
Outline the backup and recovery plan, indicating how often backups will be made.

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3b. How will data security and protection of sensitive data be taken care of during the research?

Guidance

3b.1. The research team will implement the data security policy and guidelines for data protection of the home institution.

Guidance

Comply

Optional:
Provide reference to institutional data security/protection policies, or, in case these are not available, provide a brief description of data security and protection policies to be implemented, specifying how data can be recovered after an incident.

3b.2. The research team will define how access to data is controlled, paying special attention to the protection of sensitive and/or personal data (if applicable).

Guidance

Comply Not applicable: no sensitive or personal data are processed

Optional:
If applicable specify who will be authorized to access which data during the research, describing security measures to ensure that sensitive/personal data will be safely stored and transferred.

6. Data management responsibilities and resources

6a. Who (for example role, position, and institution) will be responsible for data management?

6a.1. The research team will appoint a data management supervisor or data steward at the start of the project, who will be responsible for supervising and coordinating all data stewardship/management tasks.

Guidance

Comply

Optional:
Indicate the data management supervisor and/or data steward(s) who is/are responsible for implementation of the Data Management Plan and carrying out the various tasks described in it, mentioning, if possible, name, institute and role/responsibility.

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6b. What resources (for example financial and time) will be dedicated to data management and ensuring that data will be FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Re-usable)?

6b.1. The research team declares it has identified the research data management tasks occurring throughout the lifespan of the research.

Guidance

Comply

6b.2. The research team declares It has budgeted for sufficient resources to cover the costs to complete these data management tasks.

Guidance

Comply

Optional:
Provide clear estimates of the costs of data management and describe how these costs will be covered.

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Date:

Version of the Domain Protocol: