"Interdisciplinarity is part of the very definition of archaeology. To interpret their data, archaeologists need others. They are not alone, but they know this and embrace it." While interdisciplinary collaboration is indeed necessary and commonplace for the interpretation of archaeological data, the same is not true for their management and preservation according to archival principles. However, collaboration with archivists is essential during and after research programs to ensure the proper preservation of data throughout their life cycle and to build future archival heritage.

The first edition of the "Archives of French Archaeology Abroad" Conference, held in Athens from May 21 to 23, 2024, focused on the theme "From Document Inaccessibility to Data Reuse." They highlighted certain points of attention, but also desirable areas of collaboration between the various research stakeholders. These 2024 days showed that it is now time to better define the forms and timescales of this collaboration so that the digital shift does not lead to the disappearance of French archaeology archives abroad.

Axis 1 : What collaborations are needed for archival preservation in a national and international context ?

From the very outset of a project, collaboration and dialogue between all stakeholders are essential to ensure effective management and optimal accessibility of archives, whether digitized or natively digital. This cooperation takes place at various levels: archivists and data producers, mission managers and data officers, archaeologists and specialists (digital humanities experts, lawyers, etc.). The interweaving of several archival services, institutions (French schools abroad, French research institutes abroad, universities or archaeological services in host countries), ministries (Ministries of Culture, Foreign Affairs, Higher Education and Research, etc.), several countries (France and abroad), legislation (national and international law), and status (archives of archaeological missions abroad, research data, etc.) makes these collaborations even more essential. Only exchanges between historical archives services and research teams can, through digital technology, restore the intellectual integrity of dispersed funds and collections.

Dialogue must be able to go beyond interpersonal relationships to create a formalized framework, with harmonized, interoperable, reproducible, searchable, automatable and recent tools that everyone can create collectively or appropriate, in order to facilitate the accessibility, sharing and reuse of data and archives.

Axis 2 : What ethics should govern archival collection and selection practices ?

From the outset, archiving must be systematically considered as an essential stage in archaeological research. This ensures the quality of acquired data and, consequently, of the research itself, while also enabling its future use. Although archives are not disappearing, the changes in their materiality brought about by digital technology are highlighting the problems related to their fragility over time.

In a context of rapidly growing production, the issue of data selection is crucial, even though definitive archival services can currently accommodate only a tiny fraction of the data resulting from archaeological research.

Therefore, to define reasoned practices for collection, selection and classification, definitive archival services must engage in dialogue with scientific leaders and stakeholders in host countries. Archaeological archives document sites that are in danger, have disappeared (including through archaeological practice itself) or are inaccessible. How can objective sorting criteria be defined, and who should be responsible for them.

Axis 3 : To what extent can the conservation of archives contribute to the protection of archaeological heritage ?

Archives are of prime importance when it comes to preventing the looting or illegal sale of archaeological objects, and enabling their restitution. They play a fundamental role in providing proof of provenance and establishing the illicit nature of the circulation of certain objects. They can both alert local authorities to the degradation of an archaeological site and a medium of mediation, helping to raise awareness or mobilize all stakeholders in the future of these sites. Couldn’t this heritage value be a lever for improving the conditions under which these archives are preserved and made available for consultation, whether in the countries concerned or in France ? Can the sharing of archives preserved by France and host countries serve to protect cultural heritage, despite legal constraints (differences between French, European, and international law) ? How could collaboration for the communication of archives between France and host countries be a lever in the fight against trafficking in cultural property ? How can the actions of various professional and inter-professional networks be articulated at local, national (Masa+, AAF, ResEFE...) or international (ICOMOS, ICA, INTERPOL...) level, so that local communities can seize the opportunity to better protect their heritage ?

These three areas of reflection will be at the heart of these days of French Archaeology Abroad, during which we aim to consider possible ways forward and formulate concrete proposals on the forms that collaborations could take to improve and secure the conservation of the data and archives produced, while improving their dissemination and promotion.

Contribution Terms

You are invited to submit your contributions within the planned themes (maximum 2,000 characters, followed by 5-6 keywords and a maximum of 3 lines of biography), in French or English, before June 27, 2025.

Successful papers will be announced in mid-September.