Openness & Sensitivity: Practical Concerns in Taking Archaeological Data Online

Part of: SAA Electronic Symposia Papers, 84th Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM (2019)

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "Openness & Sensitivity: Practical Concerns in Taking Archaeological Data Online," at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The volume of digital archaeological data available online has increased dramatically in recent decades. Maturing technical infrastructure allows for increased discoverability, usability, and higher resolution of data reporting. In this rapidly changing information landscape, considerations for archaeological data sensitivity are more critical than ever. While it is understood that disclosing archaeological site locations could lead to looting and site destruction, it’s imperative to consider information beyond geospatial data, and to acknowledge the consequences of releasing, transmitting, and storing data online. How can we effectively assess risk to balance protecting information with open science ideals? When we choose to release or withhold archaeological data, how can we avoid reproducing exploitative, colonialist structures that have the power to harm descendent communities? What practical steps can we take, and how have we adjusted our procedural guidelines to keep pace with the rapidly-changing world of digital data online?

https://saaddig.github.io/SAA2019-openness-sensitivity/

Other Keywords
digital archaeology • Cultural Resource Management • Indigenous • open data • Historic • Ancestral Pueblo • Open access • Public and Community Archaeology

Geographic Keywords
North America (Continent) • United States of America (Country) • Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre (Country) • Canada (Country) • North America • United Mexican States (Country) • Department of Martinique (Country) • Republic of El Salvador (Country) • Department of Guadeloupe (Country) • Cayman Islands (Country)