Websites as Tools for Archaeological Data Management and Information Dissemination in Ghana

Abstract

Archaeological research in Ghana, dating back to the 1940s, has generated vast amount of data and insights into the country’s past. In spite of its enormity, access to these resources remain limited, with much of the knowledge confined to academic circles. This exclusion marginalizes the Ghanaian public, whose heritage is the focus of these studies. This research explores the potential of digital platforms—specifically archaeological websites— in bridging this gap by providing open access to selected archaeological data as well as research findings from selected sites. Using the relational database model, the work organizes selected archaeological data from the Begho archives into a searchable database with a user-friendly interface for easy access. The work again utilizes the executive summary approach to re-communicate academic publications on Daboya, Dixcove and the Kintampo Complex to a cross-section of the public. The summaries were then presented in a blog format. The resulting database and blogs were integrated into a single website accessible at www.heritagequest24.com This work is expected help bridge the gap between academia and the broader public, address storage constraints at archaeology institutions, facilitate project tracking and ensure long term curation of archaeological resources to aid use and reuse.