DAI

The historical archives at the DAI's locations are outstanding by their diversity. Next to hosts of administrative records, protocols, and letters, it is chiefly the archived reports and legacies documenting the scientific work of the DAI that bestow the archives with their unique character. Because of the institute's global activities, the documents in addition furnish exceptional information about international political relations. However, owing to the diversity and nature of the archived material, the archives also face particular challenges. Because excavation records are compiled only once during fieldwork, they constitute a one-time resource and are not transcribed in second copies. They come in the form of large plans, diaries, and drawings, and are supplemented with photographs. A special concern therefore is to secure and index these documents digitally. It is even more important to make this information accessible to the DAI's host countries and to the academic world in general through digitisation to thence sustain efforts of developing national heritage registries. After all, only known and recorded monuments can in the end be protected. In a memorandum dating to 1815, the German architect Friedrich Schinkel already called for the creation a monument inventory. Today, digital monument registries are very much part of everyday life in most German states, whereas in numerous countries elsewhere, such registers yet need to be implemented and developed.