Life and Death of DH Projects: A Preliminary Investigation of Their Lifecycles in Italy

In recent years, there has been a significant proliferation of Digital Humanities (DH) projects, but this growth has been accompanied by increasing challenges in digital preservation. In fact, many of these projects are not currently accessible due to issues such as technological obsolescence and server maintenance difficulties. This study represents the first attempt to examine the online lifecycle and persistence of DH projects in Italy through an analysis of 270 initiatives from 1998 to 2024. The chosen research methodology combines data from multiple sources, including conference proceedings, research center websites, and existing project aggregators, to track projects’ availability and longevity. The analysis revealed that 250 projects had associated websites, with 213 currently functioning, 31 partially inaccessible, and 37 experiencing URL-related issues (with a non functioning website or having an incorrect redirection). Examining discontinued projects, the study found an average lifespan of 3 years and 9 months. Additionally, the data highlights a steady increase in new project launches since the early 2000s, with notable growth during the last decade, followed by a decline in net growth from 2022 onwards. Our findings unveil the fragility of digital infrastructures in DH, highlighting the need for enhanced strategies to ensure the sustainability and accessibility of these initiatives over time. By addressing systemic risks and prioritizing preservation planning, the field can better safeguard its contributions to cultural and scholarly heritage.