https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06473-z
Regular Article
From excavation to laboratory: advanced strategies for archiving archaeometric marble provenance research at the Austrian archaeological institute (OeAW)
1
Austrian Archaeological Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Dominikanerbastei 16, 1010, Vienna, Austria
2
University of Patras, Mag. Alexandrou 1, 26334, Patras, Greece
a
vasiliki.anevlavi@oeaw.ac.at
Received:
14
November
2024
Accepted:
24
May
2025
Published online:
9
July
2025
Archaeometry applies scientific methods to analyse artefacts and structures that shape our cultural heritage. Like field excavations, lab analyses produce substantial material, samples, and data, yet there is limited focus on tracking the full journey of these archaeological objects—from excavation sites to labs and beyond. This gap affects data reproducibility, research quality, and public access to archaeometric findings. This paper details the Austrian Archaeological Institute’s (OeAI) decades-long efforts to archive all relevant data, materials, and documentation from its archaeometric research, treating these elements as extensions of cultural heritage. The OeAI’s collections are particularly notable, featuring one of the most comprehensive archives on Roman marble and pottery from Asia Minor. Key marble datasets, including reference collections by Prof. W. Prochaska, D. Attanasio, and L. Moens, reinforce its foundational role in marble provenance studies. The “Fingerprinting White Marbles” project led to the development of a flexible database designed to store data in a structured format, linking archaeological objects to their analyses and sample data, with controlled vocabulary for consistent, accessible documentation. This platform follows FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) to support sustainable data use across archaeometric fields, allowing new and existing projects to integrate seamlessly. This paper provides an overview of the database, inviting discussion on the evolving needs of both data producers and consumers in archaeometry.
© The Author(s) 2025
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