Partners

The HSDS is developed and managed by the Archaeology Data Service, an innovative CoreTrustSeal repository managing archaeological and heritage science data since 1996, in partnership with STFC's Hartree Centre, a high-performance computing, data analytics and AI research facility.

The Archaeology Data Service is the leading accredited repository in the UK for archaeology and historic environment data, with over 25 years of experience supporting research, learning and teaching with free, high quality and dependable digital resources. Founded in 1996, the core activity of the ADS is the long-term digital preservation of the data entrusted to its care.

The Hartree Centre is part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), one of Europe’s largest multidisciplinary scientific research organisations within UK Research and Innovation. Building on a wealth of established scientific heritage and a network of international expertise our experts collaborate with industry and the research community to explore the latest technologies, upskill teams, and apply practical digital solutions to individual and industry-wide challenges.


The project runs for 5 years (2024-29) during which a consortium of key UK heritage bodies covering England, Scotland and Wales will develop the service. As initial data providers with associated digital expertise, they enable a ‘design with data’ approach, with sector coverage complementing ADS, and include the British Museum, British Geological Survey, The National Gallery, The National Archives, Natural History Museum, Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland and Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales. Collaboration with the Museum Data Service will ensure interoperability with metadata drawn from smaller museums. Cascading grants will provide crucial support for additional partners and wider coverage of user-needs analysis, also fostering co-development of Virtual Research Environments for visualising and interrogating.

Internationally, HSDS provides the UK DIGILAB hub for E-RIHS (European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science), ensuring that RICHeS can be connected to international initiatives, including E-RIHS, ECCCH and EOSC. HSDS will work with the Getty Conservation Institute to integrate data from laboratories using their Arches for Science platform with the assistance of Flax & Teal. The National Gallery and The National Archives will work with Kartography to integrate data through the ResearchSpace platform. The National Heritage Science Forum will ensure the services developed meet the needs of a broad range of users, whilst Manchester Metropolitan University will lead data collection on facilities and expertise, building upon their foundational work in the RICHeS scoping exercise that engaged with 85 potential stakeholders.