The FU Berlin’s Cast Collection of Ancient Sculpture has entered its collection data into the German Archaeological Institute’s (DAI) specialist portal, iDAI.objects (Arachne). This will allow researchers, teachers, and the public to find objects within their proper context. The original casts are typically listed in Arachne as well.
This pilot project explores how limitations resulting from the nature of a specialist portal can be compensated for with a complementary database solution. For instance, a specialist portal cannot record internal collection locations or administrative information.
The collection plays an active role in teaching at the Institute of Archaeology. Its curator, Prof. Lorenz Winkler-Horaček, regularly holds project seminars, during which students organize exhibitions. However, the data compiled in this context cannot be included on Arachne.
In close consultation with the DAI, the Digital Network for Collections is developing a workflow to partially or fully automatically extract the data entered into Arachne and mirror it in a “data hotel” provided by the Digital Network for Collections. In this data hotel, the data is supplemented with information relevant only to in-house administration and teaching. The Arachne database remains the source of truth. A workflow will be established to feed necessary corrections and additions back into Arachne.