1. A remnant, structure, or discrete unit of data left behind by human or algorithmic activity within a digital ecosystem.
2. An object of historical, cultural, or technical interest that requires deliberate excavation and preservation to prevent its loss to link rot or platform collapse.
3. The foundational unit of study within the discipline of Archaeobytology.
A dead, fully preserved digital artifact. Fossilized code and static structures maintained for their historical provenance.
A living artifact. Code or community spaces still in active use, requiring dynamic preservation while avoiding disruption.
A shadow artifact. Lost or corrupted data whose existence can only be inferred by the negative space it left behind.
Digital artifacts do not preserve themselves. They require a rigorous methodology, a technical framework, and a philosophical commitment to the provenance of the web.
Enter Archaeobytology.orgThe Official Discipline & Curriculum