Access to memory (ATOM) Launch

Presented by The African Rock Art Digital Archive (ARADA) and the Rock Art Research Institute at Wits University.

This is the debut of a new Rock Art Archival System (ARADA), now available through the Access to Memory (AtoM) platform. This system offers open access to preserved rock art collections, aiming to protect historical materials while making them easily accessible for researchers, students, and the public.

ARADA Background

ARADA was created in the early 2000s, beginning with the establishment of a laboratory in 2001, aimed initially at digitizing RARI’s collections. The ARADA online platform, including the maintenance and upgrading of its hardware and software to facilitate access, is supported by Canon South Africa. ARADA works on digitising content that is deemed to be part of South Africa’s collective memory and cultural heritage. Many of its collections comprise photographs, digital images, drawings, image slides, and tangible historical documents. At the centre of this important work are three pillars which are the core of ARADA’s mission: preservation, education, and digital innovation.

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