Success Stories: the Digital Archaeological Record (tDAR), a Repository with Innovative Solutions for Public Outreach, Education, and Research

Archaeological collections take on many forms, and increasingly include significant digital components. Many archaeologists, repositories, and other managers of cultural heritage and archaeological collections are not equipped to successfully care for digital collections; at worst, placing the information at risk of permanent loss, and at best making it more difficult to access and use for research, education, and public outreach. The Digital Archaeological Record (tDAR) is an online disciplinary repository that specializes in the long term care and management of digital archaeological collections. This paper explores the special challenges facing the care of digital information and the successful outcomes for research, education, and public outreach for digital archaeological collections managed in tDAR.