THE DIGITALIZATION OF HERITAGE USING THE EXAMPLE OF ROMAN PROVINCIAL EPIGRAPHIC MONUMENTS

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The first part of the paper explains the meaning of epigraphic monuments, the types of monuments and their importance for understanding of the past. The focus is on the value of this type of archaeological remains in the context of Southeast Europe. The paper also explains why classical epigraphic monuments should be digitalized because they are often inadequately stored in museums and other institutions. When it comes to the region of Southeast Europe, the majority of monuments were discovered in Croatia, but in other countries, this type of monument represents a valuable part of the classical heritage. To preserve these monuments and ensure that they are further used for research purposes, under the guidance of the Commissione epigrafia e informatica (AIEGL), in 2003 it was decided to create an international network of epigraphic databases EAGLE (Electronic Archive of Greek and Latin Epigraphy). For twenty years, epigraphers have been directly or indirectly working on the digitalization of classical epigraphic monuments which is one of the largest and longest archaeological projects in the world. The largest number of monuments from Roman provinces have been digitalized in the databases Epigraphic Database Heidelberg, Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss / Slaby, Ubi Erat Lupa, Roman Inscriptions of Britain, and Hispania Epigraphica Online. When it comes to Roman provinces from South-eastern Europe, we should single out Epigraphic Database Heidelberg (EDH) and Epigraphic Database Clauss / Slaby (EDCS). Epigraphic Database Heidelberg stores 6838 inscriptions from Croatia, 855 inscriptions discovered in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1460 inscriptions from Serbia, 384 from the territory of Albania, 315 from Montenegro, 375 from Northern Macedonia and 1108 from Slovenia.