The Digital Archive of Huhugam Archaeology and the Reuse of Archaeological Information

Abstract The reuse of information derived from past archaeological investigations is integral to contemporary research practices. Yet, archiving practices of many (but not all) scholars, cultural resource managers, and public agencies often fall short of meeting standard best practices. This limitation impedes efficient and meaningful reuse of information in future research and management endeavors. To alleviate archival and reuse concerns, the development of publicly available, secure, online archives is crucial to improving scholarly research, assisting in land-planning activities and enhancing access to cultural heritage documents for Indigenous communities. In response to these challenges and in collaboration with state, federal, and tribal partners, the Center for Digital Antiquity established the Digital Archive of Huhugam Archaeology. This archive, preserved in the Digital Archaeological Record (tDAR), consolidates information from more than 90 years of archaeological investigations in central and southern Arizona. We outline the process of constructing the archive and describe the current methods for assessing reuse (distinguishing between quantity and quality ) and the value of reuse. Even though metrics such as page views and downloads are used often, we believe that when used on their own they fail to adequately capture the true value of reused data for academics, cultural resource managers, Indigenous communities, and the public.