Despoina TSIAFAKI | Natasa MICHAILIDOU
(Athena”: Research & Innovation Center in Information, Communication & Knowledge Technologies, Xanthi, Greece)

Keywords: archaeological research, digital archaeology, public archaeology, Northern Greece, learning

Abstract:
The digitisation of the available scientific results in ways that make them easy to manage and help create new knowledge is always a requisite. Within archaeology, the activity of digitisation has focused in digitisation in 2 or 3D of excavations and geographical information, of movable and immovable finds, of the relevant literature and the relative data, which was held in excavation diaries, was presented in printed publications and now becomes available in off and online repositories.
Within this framework this paper presents the ARENA project (Archaeological REsearch in the North Aegean). The main theme of ARENA is the collection, management and presentation of the archaeological research conducted in Aegean Thrace and generally the northern Greek territory. The goal is the transformation of the traditional research into digital archaeology accessible and usable to everyone. A multidisciplinary approach is used, bringing together traditional archaeological research and the use of new technologies.
The aim of ARENA is a) to give an integrated perspective (with space-time characteristics) to the researchers of Aegean Thrace and to facilitate their work, but also b) to provide the general public (locals, tourists etc.) with a tool in order to better understand and approach the archaeological knowledge regarding Aegean Thrace.
Through this approach the objective is to create different tools and repositories presented through an online platform where 1) the available archaeological publications for the Aegean Thrace region will be gathered, 2) the ancient sites and the relevant research will be presented following chronological, spatial and other criteria and 3) the results of the archaeological research will be available in forms easily accessible by the public and schools.
The ultimate goal of ARENA is to deliver a digital platform that will serve as an infrastructure tool for the archaeological research in Northern Greece, for both specialists and the public.

Relevance for the conference: The relevance of the paper for the conference lies in the discussion within the ARENA project of ways that take the documentation of the archaeological research regarding an area a step further, through the digital collection, management and promotion of its results for the public and the researchers.
Relevance for the session: The relevance of the paper to the session “Smart ways of building up digital collections in libraries, archives and museums” lies in the aim of the ARENA project to create a digital collection (constantly enlarging) regarding the archaeological research of Aegean Thrace and to open this collection to both academics and the public.
Innovation: The innovation of the project presented lies in its great contribution for the future of both the archaeological research in the understudied region of Aegean Thrace and more generally for the digital management and promotion of its cultural reserve to scientists and the general public.
References:
• Tsiafaki, D. (2012). “The Contribution of New Technologies in Archaeology: Goals & Issues”, in N. Zacharias (ed.), 2nd Symposium – Archaeological Research and New Technologies ARCH_RNT, University of Peloponnese, DHACRM, Kalamata, Greece, October 21-23, 2010, 93-98.
• Sarris, A., V. Trigkas, G. Papadakis, M. Papazoglou, E. Peraki, N. Chetzoyiannaki, M. Elvanidou, E. Karimali, K. Kouriati, M. Katifori, G. Kakoulaki, E. Kappa, K. Arthanasaki and N. Papadopoulos (2008). “A Web-GIS Approach to Cultural Resources Management in Crete: the Digital Archaeological Atlas of Crete”, in Posluschny, A., K. Lambers and I. Herzog (eds.), Layers of Perception. Proceedings of the 35th International Conference on Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology (CAA), Berlin, Germany, April 2–6, 2007.