Institutional Information
About the Bureau
The Bureau of Digital Antiquities is a public institution dedicated to the identification, documentation and preservation of historically significant Digital Objects.
Mandate
Mission of the Bureau
The Bureau preserves historically significant digital heritage for public study, institutional research and future generations.
Its work includes provenance research, technical verification, archival recovery, preservation monitoring and public publication through the Forgotten Web Exchange.
Institutional History
Established 1998
The Bureau was established in 1998 in response to the growing need for coordinated preservation of historically significant material published through emerging digital networks.
Its original mandate focused on identifying vulnerable websites, documenting their provenance and coordinating preservation activity before historically significant material was lost.
Preservation Principles
Digital Heritage as Public Record
The Bureau treats historically significant websites, software, network services and related digital materials as Digital Objects worthy of formal documentation and long-term study.
Where continued public accessibility is possible, preservation may be conducted in situ. Where material is unavailable or at risk, the Bureau may undertake archival recovery, technical reconstruction or documentary preservation.
Administration
Organisation of the Bureau
The Bureau conducts its work through specialised offices, divisions, units and archives responsible for preservation, provenance, investigation, recovery and publication.
Public Services
Public Access and Research
Approved Digital Object Records are made available through the Forgotten Web Exchange. The Bureau also publishes Field Reports, Preservation Bulletins, Technical Notes and Annual Reports.