Abstract

Wikipedia has become ubiquitous as an information source, but very few archaeologists have contributed to expanding or editing this, the single largest open access information platform available in the western world. Theoretical Roman Archaeology is somewhat of a niche specialism, but it is a wondrous multidisciplinary space incorporating aspects of various disciplines, such as anthropology, philosophy, sociology, psychology, economics, politics, and maths. The varied interests of TRAC participants are a strength of its community, and these may be promoted using the Wikipedia resource.

The main aim of this workshop is to improve the online presence of the subjects advocated by the Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference; the theories, the people, the places, and the research. Some topics that can be covered are Post-Processual archaeology, main scholars working on Theoretical Roman Archaeology, or Roman sites, such as Vindolanda, Leptis Magna, or Rome itself. Equally, if there is a piece of published research you are really interested in, anything from an antiquarian excavation report to your own published work, aspects of this can be incorporated into the encyclopaedia.

Outcomes 

The second TRAC workshop took place on Saturday 24th February 2018, in the Department of Archaeology at University of Cambridge (UK). The workshop was organised by Adam Parker (Open University) and Francesca Mazzilli (Cambridge Archaeological Unit and Ordinary Member of the TRAC Standing Committee) with the support of Wikimedia UK.

After an introduction by Adam Parker and Doug Taylor (a Wikimedia UK trustee), participants and organisers created five Wikipedia articles and edited 10 Wikipedia pages. We are proud to say that the Wikipedia pages of the Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference and the TRAC founder Eleanor Scott (archaeologist) were created.

Articles created:

• Ellen Swift
• Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference
• Alda Levi
• Eleanor Scott (archaeologist)
• Kevin Greene (archaeologist)

Articles edited:

• Thurstan Shaw
• Dorothy Charlesworth
• Hardknott Roman Fort
• G. Collingwood– added wikilink to TRAC
• Eboracum– added wikilink to TRAC
• Roman Britain– added wikilink to TRAC
• Curse tablet– added wikilink to TRAC
• Creolization– added links to applications to Roman world and wikilink to TRAC
• Lindsay Allason-Jones– added TRAC publication and wikilink
• Pat Southern– added TRAC publication and wikilink