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