McKenzie, Kathryn2021-05-2520212021-05-25http://hdl.handle.net/1828/12995Comparative collections are fundamentally important for the zooarchaeological identification of archaeological animal remains. The University of Victoria Zooarchaeology Lab has an extensive regional skeletal reference collection widely used and known by researchers across the Northwest Coast. Accessibility of collections such as this can be improved through Open Science practices. These practices work to improve the discipline of archaeology, advance knowledge discovery, uphold ethics, and strengthen collaborative strategies. This paper uses best practices of data management to create a citable database to enhance accessibility of the UVic collection and provide guidance for open method standards and practices in zooarchaeology. By linking open data resources to the collection, contemporary and deep-time biodiversity data can be shared by researchers to broaden awareness of the collection, inspire data reuse and sharing, create novel research, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. Educational opportunities and community-based research will connect educators, students, Indigenous communities and heritage specialists to collection resources. The UVic Zooarchaeology Lab will build capacity to become a significant source of anthropological, ecological, and ethnobiological knowledge.enArchaeologyBiodiversityCommunity-Based ResearchComparative CollectionsDarwin CoreDatabaseData ManagementEcologyEducationIndigenous KnowledgeLinked Open DataNatural History CollectionsNorthwest CoastOpen MethodsOpen ScienceZooarchaeologyHonours thesis