This thesis investigates how article 7 of the Malta Convention is implemented in the Netherlands. Article 7 deals with the enabling of the study of and dissemination of archaeological information....Show moreThis thesis investigates how article 7 of the Malta Convention is implemented in the Netherlands. Article 7 deals with the enabling of the study of and dissemination of archaeological information. This is achieved by requiring the writing of a summary record after an excavation and a national overview of all archaeological data. First, it focusses at how this is realised in the Netherlands through legislation and policy. All Dutch summary records and other archaeological data are stored at the DANS institute. By looking at the way in which this repository is set up, it can be stated that DANS stores data in a sustainable way. Next it analyses the archaeological use and user data of DANS. This is achieved by inspecting the user account data on research interest and the amount that belongs to the archaeological professional’s group. This group consists of ca. 3000 registered users. Further it investigates the use of DANS by looking at the downloading of archaeological datasets and files. It will evaluate the depositing of datasets within the archaeology discipline. In the use and user-analysis the focus is placed on the years 2017 and 2018. From this analysis it becomes clear that DANS is frequently used to gather archaeological data. This reuse of data can mainly be ascribed to professional archaeologists. This indicates that the archaeological data is being reused in further research. The deposition data reveals that the depositing of data is done by only a small part of the archaeological user community. Subsequently a chapter is committed to a short overview of other European countries, with a focus on comparing the situation in England to that of the Netherlands. For while the system of both countries seems similar, with features such as commercial archaeology, a trusted repository and long archaeological tradition, there are still significant differences between both heritage management systems. Further, there is a chapter dedicated to international collaboration on making archaeological data available internationally. Malta article 8 treats the promoting and sharing of archaeological information nationally and internationally. One step taken towards this goal is the ARIADNE project, a European Union funded project in which several partners created a data infrastructure that could search international archaeological archives. The steps to attain this search portal are described, with observations on how ARIADNE needs to be improved for it to become a true asset. The work on the portal is continued in the next phase ARIADNEplus. 88 In conclusion the study finds that the connotations of article 7 have been deeply embedded in archaeology practiced in the Netherlands. This has been a cooperation of state legislation, spatial planning policy, quality guidelines and storage protocols that have been drafted through an active dialogue between archaeologists and government. This has resulted in making the archives part of the knowledge cycle, by actively incorporating old data into new research.Show less
