VISEAD: Pushing the cutting edge of SEAD: new research areas and users for interdisciplinary studies of global challenges

Project description

VISEAD aims to build on the established Strategic Environmental Archaeology Database (SEAD) platform by adding support for cutting edge methods in archaeological science. The project also aims to facilitate the use of multidisciplinary archaeological research data by regional government, consultants and with other infrastructure. It will do this in a collaborative venture uniting four archaeological research laboratories with a professional development team and stakeholders, including Västerbotten County Administrative Board (LST) and consultants. Project staff will undertake the systematic analysis and entry of new data types, including dendrochronology and wood analyses, compound specific stable isotopes, lipids and ceramic geochemistry. A globally unique platform will be created by adding these data to SEAD’s current catalogue including insects, plants, pollen, soil chemistry and more. VISEAD will be a resource for a broad spectrum of research fields from archaeology and geology to health, conservation and heritage studies. It will enable the interdisciplinary study of long-term aspects of global challenges at an unprecedented scale and complexity. The system will also help heritage management organizations engage in advanced projects, including the analysis of the risks posed to cultural heritage by climate change. All data will be quality assured and made available through online Open Access.