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English Heritage maintains a record of fieldwork, the Excavation Index which was begun by the former RCHME in 1978. It now holds details of over 80,000 archaeological interventions and other historic environment recording events in England. These include interventions dating from the earliest episodes of scientific archaeology to the present day (see [C.7.3|http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/ifp/Wiki.jsp?page=SectionC.7#section-SectionC.7-C.7.3OASISOnLineAccesSToTheIndexOfArchaeologicalInvestigationS]). Information has been collected from a variety of sources (including HERs) and combines bibliographic recording with direct input from reports, recording forms and microfilm archives. The scope of the Index covers both invasive (excavation, evaluation, watching brief) and non-invasive (geophysical survey, desk-based assessment, field-walking and measured survey) methods of investigation. The Index provides both a record of the event that has taken place and acts as a signpost to the archaeological features identified and the associated documentary and archive sources. Since 1998 a sub-set of the Index has been made available on the internet (Figure 27) via the ADS Catalogue (see [http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/|http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/]).
[Historic England|Glossary#Historic England|target='_blank'] maintains a record of history environment recording events often referred to as the 'Excavation Index' although it contains details of all types of fieldwork not just archaeological excavations. This was begun by the former RCHME in 1978 and it now holds details of over 80,000 archaeological interventions and other historic environment recording events in England. These include interventions dating from the earliest episodes of scientific archaeology to the present day (see [C.7.3|http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/ifp/Wiki.jsp?page=SectionC.7#section-SectionC.7-C.7.3OASISOnLineAccesSToTheIndexOfArchaeologicalInvestigationS]). Information has been collected from a variety of sources (including HERs) and combines bibliographic recording with direct input from reports, recording forms and microfilm archives. The scope of the Index covers both invasive (excavation, evaluation, watching brief) and non-invasive (geophysical survey, desk-based assessment, field-walking and measured survey) methods of investigation. The Index provides both a record of the event that has taken place and acts as a signpost to the archaeological features identified and the associated documentary and archive sources. Since 1998 a sub-set of the Index has been made available on the internet (Figure 27) via the ADS Catalogue (see [http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/|http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/]).
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[{Image src='Ex_Index_sm.jpg' alt='Figure 27: ADS web page – Excavation Index.'}]
''Figure 27: ADS web page – Excavation Index (English Heritage and the Archaeology Data Service 2007).''
[{Image src='Ex_Index_sm.jpg' alt='Figure 31: ADS web page – Excavation Index.'}]
''Figure 31: ADS web page – Excavation Index (English Heritage and the Archaeology Data Service 2007).''
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From 1990 to 2012, English Heritage sponsored Bournemouth University to conduct an annual data-collection exercise, the Archaeological Investigations Project (AIP). The results of the exercise have been published as The Gazetteer of Archaeological Investigations in England, issued as an annual supplement to the British and Irish Archaeological Bibliography. The database compiled to produce these printed volumes has been deposited with the English Heritage.
From 1990 to 2012, English Heritage sponsored Bournemouth University to conduct an annual data-collection exercise, the Archaeological Investigations Project (AIP). The results of the exercise have been published as The Gazetteer of Archaeological Investigations in England, issued as an annual supplement to the British and Irish Archaeological Bibliography. The database compiled to produce these printed volumes was been deposited English Heritage.
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The merger of the RCHME and English Heritage in April 1999 brought with it an opportunity to integrate the Excavation Index and The Gazetteer of Archaeological Investigations into a single resource. This concordance was made possible through the OASIS project, an alliance between English Heritage, the AIP and the ADS, with funding from the Research Support Libraries Program (RSLP). OASIS aims to create a single index to the grey literature of archaeological assessment reports and excavation archives in England, which will be delivered via the ADS ArchSearch catalogue The OASIS project has developed an on-line recording form and aims to promote its use by contractors so that they can submit index-level records of archaeological investigations to English Heritage and the relevant HER. (See section [C 7.3|http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/ifp/Wiki.jsp?page=SectionC.7#section-SectionC.7-C.7.3OASISOnLineAccesSToTheIndexOfArchaeologicalInvestigationS])
The merger of the RCHME and English Heritage in April 1999 brought with it an opportunity to integrate the Excavation Index and The Gazetteer of Archaeological Investigations into a single resource. This concordance was made possible through the OASIS project, an alliance between English Heritage (now [Historic England|Glossary#Historic England|target='_blank']), the AIP and the ADS, with funding from the Research Support Libraries Program (RSLP). OASIS aims to create a single index to the grey literature of archaeological assessment reports and excavation archives in England, which will be delivered via the ADS ArchSearch catalogue The OASIS project has developed an on-line recording form and aims to promote its use by contractors so that they can submit index-level records of archaeological investigations to [Historic England|Glossary#Historic England|target='_blank'] and the relevant HER. (See section [C 7.3|http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/ifp/Wiki.jsp?page=SectionC.7#section-SectionC.7-C.7.3OASISOnLineAccesSToTheIndexOfArchaeologicalInvestigationS])
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There is currently no equivalent Excavation Index covering Scotland. Currently fieldwork is reported annually through the Council for Scottish Archaeology's Discovery and Excavation in Scotland publication. Some SMRs transfer Discovery and Excavation data into an Events module, but data is also transferred into the RCAHMS NMRS database and supplied to the relevant SMR as part of an on-going data exchange programme. The current extension of OASIS to Scotland will help develop indexes both locally and nationally.
The OASIS project is also in place in Scotland where it has been adopted across the sector for the reporting of archaeological projects. The OASIS project complements and encourages the continued reporting of fieldwork to the wider public through Archaeology Scotland's annual publication Discovery and Excavation in Scotland. Some HERs transfer Discovery and Excavation data into an Events module, but data is also transferred into the HES NMRS database and supplied to the relevant HER as part of an on-going data exchange programme.
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In Wales the HERs have the responsibility for recording archaeological events, but the HEROS database system allows OASIS to receive event information and grey literature automatically from HER records.
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Since the advent of planning policy guidance for archaeology (PPG16 England, Circular 60/96 Wales, and NPPG 5 and PAN 42 in Scotland), archaeological consultants and field units have carried out much of the archaeological fieldwork in Britain on the basis of competitive tendering. The contractors operate to briefs or specifications developed by archaeologists working alongside the HER in local government planning offices. As well as specifying the archaeological research, briefs will normally include recommendations covering the deposit of material resulting from the research. In England this includes data and reports to be deposited in the HER, finds and archives deposited in local museums or other repositories and computer-based information to be deposited in a recognised digital archive. In Scotland the SMRs by custom and practice require the deposition of the original site archive (for example the paper, photographic and digital records) for long-term preservation with the RCAHMS, whilst copies of all reports are deposited in the SMR. For artefacts the Treasure Trove Advisory Panel (who provide independent advice to the Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer) decides the appropriate depository.
Since the advent of planning policy guidance for archaeology (PPG16 England, Circular 60/96 Wales, and NPPG 5 and PAN 42 in Scotland), archaeological consultants and field units have carried out much of the archaeological fieldwork in Britain on the basis of competitive tendering. The contractors operate to briefs or specifications developed by archaeologists working alongside the HER in local government planning offices. As well as specifying the archaeological research, briefs will normally include recommendations covering the deposit of material resulting from the research. In England this includes data and reports to be deposited in the HER, finds and archives deposited in local museums or other repositories and computer-based information to be deposited in a recognised digital archive. In Scotland the HERs require the deposition of the original site archive (for example the paper, photographic and digital records) for long-term preservation with Historic Environment Scotland, whilst copies of all reports are deposited in the local HER. For artefacts the Treasure Trove Advisory Panel (who provide independent advice to the Queen's and Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer) decides the appropriate depository.
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Creating an index record to an event or archive should not place a new burden on units - it is work that many already do and that since 1997 has been supported by the Standing Conference of Archaeological Unit Managers (SCAUM). Standard record forms for collecting information from units have been developed by the Greater London HER, SCAUM, English Heritage, the AIP, Northamptonshire HER and others. Where used, these paper forms have met with some success in improving the flow of information from data collector to HER.
Creating an index record to an event or archive should not place a new burden on units - it is work that many already do and that since 1997 has been supported by the Standing Conference of Archaeological Unit Managers (SCAUM). Standard record forms for collecting information from units have been developed by the Greater London HER, SCAUM, English Heritage/Historic England, the AIP, Northamptonshire HER and others. Where used, these paper forms have met with some success in improving the flow of information from data collector to HER.
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The ADS can offer advice on digital data transfers ([[email protected]|mailto:[email protected]]). English Heritage offer guidance on the use of the OASIS form ([[email protected]|mailto:[email protected]]).
The ADS can offer advice on digital data transfers ([[email protected]|mailto:[email protected]]). [Historic England|Glossary#Historic England|target='_blank'] offer guidance on the use of the OASIS form ([[email protected]|mailto:[email protected]]).
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For Scotland see section above ([D.3.4|http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/ifp/Wiki.jsp?page=SectionD.3#section-SectionD.3-D.3.4CompilationFromDigitalSources]) re ASPIRE
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Much of this can be achieved through the use of FISH Tools MIDAS Schema (see Section [B.6|SectionB.6], [B.7|SectionB.7] for details). The Forum for Information Standards in Heritage (FISH) has undertaken a project to develop a toolkit of formats schema and protocols for data held in historic environment information resources (HEIRs).
Much of this can be achieved through the use of the [FISH Interoperability Toolkit|Glossary#FISH Interoperability Toolkit|target='_blank'] (see [Section B.7|SectionB.7#B.7.4 The FISH Interoperability Toolkit] for details). This comprises a suite of tools which can assist with the process of moving large amounts of data between a wide range historic environment information resources ([HEIRs|Glossary#HEIRS|target='_blank']).
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The 'FISH interoperability toolkit' development project will provide the heritage data community with an essential infrastructure of shared standards. It has the potential to improve access to information for all.
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FISH: [http://www.fish-forum.info/terms.htm|http://www.fish-forum.info/terms.htm]\\
FISH Interoperabilty Toolkit [http://www.heritage-standards.org.uk/|http://www.heritage-standards.org.uk/]
FISH: [http://fishforum.weebly.com/|http://fishforum.weebly.com/|target='_blank']
FISH Interoperabilty Toolkit: [http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/fishtoolkit/|http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/fishtoolkit/|target='_blank']
This page (revision-22) was last changed on 24-Jan-2017 16:43 by Chris MartinTop