Presenting the RomAniDat data community and an archaeofaunal dataset for Roman Italy

Abstract

The RomAniDat data community is a network of experts from diverse fields including archaeozoology, archaeology, and history, who collaborate on the collection of faunal data from the Roman period. Compiled data is made available via Pandora, a new technological platform that allows for the building of data communities where its members directly manage and curate data. RomAniDat members can submit data compilations with different structural metadata and assign to these a DOI. It is also possible to list external data compilations with previously assigned DOIs. Under RomAniDat, generalized metadata schemas are being developed to offer users standardized data views which combine separate compilations. These include references to both primary publications and data compilations. Here, we present a first metadata schema to visualize combined data from publications reporting on the distribution of faunal assemblages. We also present an archaeofaunal compilation for Roman Italy and briefly illustrate its research potential. RomAniDat can be used to identify data gaps and set future research agendas, as a tool for cultural heritage protection, and for multiple research purposes at various temporal and spatial scales.