Fund-Logbuch: Providing a Centralized Infrastructure for Recording Small rchaeological finds

Description

A large number of archaeological small finds are reported by metal detectorists and volunteers. These provide important information for the legally mandated preservation of archaeological sites. At the same time, they represent a significant - yet underappreciated - scientific resource for archaeological research. Until now, incorporating such reports into specialized scientific databases required a great deal of effort. Non-digital recording processes are time-consuming and error-prone. They lead to delays in scientific analysis and conservation efforts, and the data reaches the research community late or not at all. These challenges are to be addressed through the development of a fully digital infrastructure: With a mobile app, a central database, and web portals for finders and authorities, find reports will in the future be recorded in a standardized, low-error, and machine-readable format. Through standardized interfaces and the use of standards, the recorded data will seamlessly enter the specialized information systems of state heritage agencies, be processed in an interoperable and sustainable manner, and thus be made available to researchers. The goal is to increase the visibility and scientific usability of citizen science data in archaeology, to strengthen the involvement of volunteers, and to ensure that new archaeological finds are quickly incorporated into research and heritage preservation.