Open Data, Archäologie und Bürgerbeteiligung in England und Wales

In the last two decades the public accessibility of archaeological information in England and Wales significantly improved through establishing by and large public access to archaeological data. The best-known example is the Portable Antiquities Scheme, which enables the public not only to report archaeological finds through a website, but also to access the finds database generated through these reports. The heritage archives (National Monuments Records and Historic Environment Records) are – as public archives – accessible for everyone, including virtually all data – even the latest – regarding excavations and other relevant research. Research projects also try to involve interested members of the public in archaeological processes through citizen science -models and crowdsource archaeological information that way. Community archaeology projects – initiated by interested hobby archaeologists or projects with at least a strong public participation – are very popular and increase the public’s interest in as well as the understanding of archaeology. Instead of protecting archaeology “in the public’s interest“ against “the public“ by excluding the public from participating in the archaeological process (of understanding), this “open data access” policy has changed the relationship between archaeology and the interested members of the public und thus improved it – at least grosso modo – significantly.