In News: The Directorate of Archives and Archaeology (DAA) of the Goa government inaugurated the Advanced Antiquities Management System on March 30, 2021.
Advanced Antiquities management system of Goa
- First such system in the country for storage of antiquities.
- The system that catalogues 83 antiquities at present is aimed at providing quick information about an antiquity linked to the software, saving storage space and ensuring improved preservation of the objects of historical significance.
Advanced Antiquities Management System (AAMS)
- The AAMS is a software-driven automated storage used for the storage of various objects.
- So far it has been used for storage of industrial equipment but the decision of Goa’s DAA to use it for storing valuable antiquities.
- The AAMS will ensure safety of antiquities, clean storage space, access control and data management and also enhance utilisation of space.
- With antiquities preserved within the system, it will provide access to these in one place with the help of a screen on which the preserved antiquities can be searched and accessed within the system for viewing.
- It will also provide information about the age of the antiquity, the material it is made of and its brief history.
Work Mechanism of AAMS
- The AAMS placed at Goa’s DAA in Panaji, looks like a large, closed container, about 3 metres tall.
- It has eight trays with a capacity of 350 kg each.
- When an antiquity is searched on the screen, the trays concealed inside the system move like a Ferris wheel and the tray bearing the antiquity searched, opens for the user to view the object.
- The system, however, is so far available offline as required by the DAA.
- It cannot be remotely accessed.
Antiquities stored in AAMS
- At present, there are 83 antiquities in the system, the oldest one being a tenth century Shivlinga.
- It also includes 12 sculptures found under a waterfall in the Ladyfem village in North Goa’s Bicholim, remains of a 13th century temple in South Goa’s Navelim.
- There are also 18th century artifacts found at the Alorna Fort including glasses made in Germany and Holland.
Who can use the AAMS
- The system will mostly benefit researchers and students permitted access by the Directorate of Archives and Archaeology (DAA) in Goa and officials of the department.
- Students researching various archaeological subjects often seek access to antiquities in the care of the Directorate.
- A click on the screen attached to the system will give the user information about the antiquity immediately and it can also be updated based on latest information about the antiquity.
Source: Indian Express
