This section of the policies describes the long-term preservation and curation of all materials in tDAR.
The Center for Digital Antiquity (Digital Antiquity) operates services compliant with the Reference Model for Open Archival Information Systems (OAIS) with the intent of assuring the preservation and utility of digital archaeological assets in the long term.
A. Future Access to Information
Digital Antiquity provides contributors the ability to designate a proxy organization to assist in the long-term management of access to confidential materials they have uploaded. This designation can be managed directly on the contributor’s profile page.
B. Staff Access to Information in tDAR
Digital Antiquity staff members have access to all files and metadata stored within tDAR. Staff will, on behalf of contributors, access and review materials to ensure that materials are being properly preserved and curated.
C. Modification of Metadata
As part of the curation process, Digital Antiquity staff may perform minor edits on all materials within the repository. These changes may include minor spelling and grammatical edits or normalization of keyword or common search terms.
D. Programmatic Access to and Modification of Files by Digital Antiquity
As part of the preservation and curation process, the tDAR application will produce derivative copies of the files contributors submit. Through the submission process the tDAR application will, among other actions, open all files submitted, extract text and other information, and create derivative files such as thumbnails.
E. Creation of Archival Copies
Digital Antiquity is committed to ensuring that all files and metadata stored within tDAR are properly archived. Over time, this may include the automatic or manual migration of contributed files to archival formats.
F. Fidelity of Archival Copies
Digital Antiquity will attempt to create an archival version that maintains the data fidelity, appearance, and functionality of all materials submitted to tDAR. Barring the ability to produce an archival version with the exact appearance and functionality, Digital Antiquity will attempt to ensure that the content (e.g., text in a document, tabular data within a data set) is preserved.
G. Dissolution of Archive
In the event that Digital Antiquity can no longer manage or maintain tDAR, Digital Antiquity has a formal agreement with another archive to make accessible and preserve the materials in tDAR.
From time to time the Board of Directors of the Center for Digital Antiquity at its discretion will add to or modify its Policies and Procedures.