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Ethics and Digital Heritage

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The Ethics of Cultural Heritage

Part of the book series: Ethical Archaeologies: The Politics of Social Justice ((ETHARCHAEOL,volume 4))

Abstract

This chapter uses literature review and experiences from the author’s Australian research to discuss ethical issues raised by using digital technologies in archaeology and cultural heritage practice. Technology use adds extra dimensions to principles already enshrined in professional codes of ethics such as professional standards and how to balance intellectual, cultural property and other rights against the public right to know (e.g. through open-access data policies). Additional ethical issues raised by technology include sustainability and digital preservation; the role of commercial and corporate interests in designing, developing and promoting particular products; professional and community engagement in the digital public sphere; equity of access to technology and content; and digital literacy and philosophical and sociopolitical questions about actuality and representation associated with digital heritage. The chapter briefly outlines key principles of archaeological codes of ethics and discusses technology use and digital heritage from the perspectives of political economy, technology design, cultural information standards, digital visualisation and virtual reality.

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Acknowledgements

I thank Martin Gibbs, Anne Bickford, Kenneth Aitchison and Robin Torrence for feedback on earlier drafts. NSW AOL is part funded by a grant from the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and NSW Heritage Council. The Archaeological Communication and Digital Technologies project was seed funded by a 2009 University of Sydney Faculty of Arts Research Support Scheme Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Archaeology & Ancient History, University of Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK

    Sarah Colley

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  1. Sarah Colley
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Correspondence to Sarah Colley .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Canberra, BRUCE, Aust Capital Terr, Australia

    Tracy Ireland

  2. Department of Archaeology, University of York, York, United Kingdom

    John Schofield

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Colley, S. (2015). Ethics and Digital Heritage. In: Ireland, T., Schofield, J. (eds) The Ethics of Cultural Heritage. Ethical Archaeologies: The Politics of Social Justice, vol 4. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1649-8_2

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