1. Towards an effective digital archiving system for archaeological field projectsR.M.Nadeeka Rathnabahu, Assistant LibrarianPGIAR, University of Kelaniya 8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka 1
3. Digital archiving is about preserving information regardless of the object on which that information is stored. The content, structure, and context of the information must be preserved in order for digital records to be migrated from one medium and format to the next. This is because diskettes and other magnetic media degrade and software and hardware change rapidly: the physical media on which digital data are stored are impermanent (Brown et al 1998). 8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka 3 What is Digital Archiving
11. To minimize massive storage and space problem8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka 4 Objectives for Digital Archives in Archaeology
16. WWWISIS8/7/2010 Digital Database System for Field of Archaeology CDS/ISIS for Windows- WINISIS Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka 5
17. Windows-based system Graphical user environment Drop down menus also activated by the mouse CDS/ISIS was developed for bibliographic information, i.e. information about documents such as books, journal articles or conference proceedings. Free Software doc, xls, ppt, html, pdf, audio, video or picture format 8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka 6
18. Field Definition Table(FDT) Data Entry Worksheet(s) Print Format (PFT) Field Selection Table(s) (FST) 8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka 7 Creating a Digital Archive
19. Field Definition Table (FDT): This is defines the fields such as Title of project, Supervisor of project etc. of the records in the database and their characteristics. FDT determines the nature of data entry worksheet. 8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka 8
21. Data Entry Worksheet(s) : The worksheet is the screen layout used to create and/or update the records of the database. This is one of the key parts of this database. Anyone can create this data entry fields according to their requirements 8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka 10
25. Field Selection Table(s) (FST): FST defines fields that can be searched in the database. Search is made possible by creating an inverted file of terms indexed from the fields chosen for search. 8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka 14
48. Technical Issues Stored in always fire-proof Anti-magnetic facilities separate from the original data files Versioning control Upgrade of hardware or software Lack of database systems Virus attack 8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka 25 Difficulties encountered in the usage
49. Human Issues Lack of skills manpower Trepidation for new technology Copyright Issues Financial Issues Lack of financial supports Lack of infrastructural facility Lack of resources 8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka 26
50. Conducting DA Awareness program Training existing staff Conduct in house workshops Participate local, international workshops Educated top management of the organization 8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka 27 Suggestions
51. There no any systematic method to preserve most important archaeological data and information for future generation in Sri Lanka. Therefore this WINISIS database software system may be extremely useful for field archaeology .Irecommend that archaeological information held in digital archives be made available to the widest number of people possible. Conclusion 8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka 28
52. Brown, Adrian et al (1998),Digital Archives from Excavation and Fieldwork: Guide to GoodPractice (Peer Review and Consultation Version) CDS/ISIS for Windows - version 1.4 January (2001): notes and format examples. UNESCO: Paris Rajasekharan. K and Nafala K.M (date not indicated), Creation of Digital Document Archives with Winisis, India: Library & Information Division Kerala Institute of Local Administration. Richards, Julian; Robinson Damian (1998) ,Digital Archives from excavation and Field work: a guide to good practice, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxbow books. Somadeva, Raj (2007),Ranchamadama Purana Susana Bumiya Keneema, Colombo: PGIAR. UNESCO (2010),CDS/ISIS database software ,UNESCO and Information processing tools, URL http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php- URL_ID=2071&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html Winisis - supplement to the Reference Manual: versions 1.0-1.3, (1998 November) UNESCO: Paris References 8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka 29
53. Prof. Raj Somadeva, Senior Lecturer, PGIAR, University of kelaniya Mr.Jayathunga Amaraweera, Lectutere, Dep.of LISC, University of kelaniya Library Staff, Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology, University of Kelaniya Mrs:Ramani Withana, PGIAR, University of kelaniya Ms.Renuka Sugathadasa, National Science Foundation/ The Library 8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka 30 Special Thanks
