towards an effective digital archiving system for archaeological complete 2010

8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka1

8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium, Colombo, Sri Lanka 2

DA*

*DA=Digital Archiving *DA=Digital Archiving

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).


Preservation of data Digital access to the information Secure copying in digital form Maintained for the future On-line and remotely accessible way Providing better services To provide personalized and retrospective services in efficient

way To minimize massive storage and space problem


Developed by UNESCO Versions:

CDS/ISIS for DOS CDS/ISIS FOR WINDOWS WWWISIS


CDS/ISIS for Windows- WINISIS

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


Field Definition Table (FDT) Data Entry Worksheet(s) Print Format (PFT) Field Selection Table(s) (FST)


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.

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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


Print Format (PFT):

The PFT is the format for display or printing of records.


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.


Step 1:

Open the Expert Search box from Search menu


Step 2:

Open Search Window and searching


Search result for the term

8/7/2010 Archaeological Symposium,

Colombo, Sri Lanka 20

Step 3:

Step 4:

Full text Document opened (You can read the map here)

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Somadeva (2007), Ranchamadama Excavation

easy to back-up files sharing, exchanging and archiving documents effectively save money, time, space disaster recovery productivity communication and collaboration levels of client satisfaction accuracy and security go green long term preservation easy and fast access to resources information Sharing user-friendly mechanism


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


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


Conducting DA Awareness program Training existing staff Conduct in house workshops Participate local, international workshops Educated top management of the organization


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 .I recommend that archaeological information held in digital archives be made available to the widest number of people possible.



Brown, Adrian et al (1998), Digital Archives from Excavation and Fieldwork: Guide to Good Practice (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



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


towards an effective digital archiving system for archaeological complete 2010

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important archaeological

digital data