Developing a “Born Digital” Research Project

Digital tools and techniques have become central to academic research. However, it is uncommon for a research project to fully replace traditional data collection methods with “born digital” alternatives. By this, we refer to materials initially created in a digital format, such as replacing paper data forms with direct entry into a database. Using the Kaymakçı Archaeological Project as a case study, we will discuss the opportunities and challenges that come with born digital data collection. We will also consider how born digital recording changes the ways we create, interpret, and share data in intended and unintended ways.