Archaeology Data Service
Available
Director
- Julian Richards
Description
The Archaeology Data Service (ADS) is a digital repository for cultural heritage data. Based at the University of York, it also provides advice and support for research projects on good practice in using digital data. It is staffed by archivists, developers and researchers who work on the long-term digital preservation of the data that have been deposited with the ADS.
Taken from the project website (Accessed 2025-12-01):
The ADS is the leading accredited digital repository for archaeology and heritage data generated by UK-based fieldwork and research. Founded in 1996, the core activity of the ADS is the long-term digital preservation of the data entrusted to our care. To do this we follow a policy of active data management and curation to ensure the integrity, reliability and accessibility in perpetuity of all our data. All resources archived with the ADS are Open Access, and delivered through our website to facilitate re-use by the heritage sector and wider community. The ADS is a world leader in promoting good practice in the use of digital data in archaeology, providing technical advice to the research community and taking the lead in a wide range of research projects. The ADS works within International e-infrastructure collaborations such as ARIADNE to explore new ways of connecting archives around the world, creating a genuinely global network for communication that cuts across traditional research boundaries.
The data stored within the repository can be accessed via the ADS search interface or can be harvested via a range of metadata services.
The ADS offers a Costing Calculator to estimate the costs of archiving. It also publishes Instructions for Depositors and Guides to Good Practice.
Taken from the project website (Accessed 2025-12-01):
Our Instructions for Depositors detail the ADS requirements for depositing your data. These instructions include how to structure your dataset, name your files and compile your metadata. It is important that data are correctly prepared before deposition with ADS as data cleaning can take a digital archivist a lot of time and can lead to higher deposit charges.
See our Data Management Pages for more guidance on Data Managment Planning including how to compile a Data Management Plan, identifying quality Metadata, Accessible Data Requirements and Data Selection Guidance. Data creation advice for archaeological data types can be found in our Guides to Good Practice, which address the preservation of data resulting from discipline specific archaeological data collection, processing and analysis techniques around the world.
If you are unsure if your dataset falls within the collecting remit of the ADS please refer the ADS Collections Policy.
These Instructions for Depositors were previously known as the ADS Guidelines for Depositors. These pages were last updated 30th January 2022.
Individuals within the team are also able to provide advice on data management and sustainability for specific projects.