Yesterday Neil Campling drew our attention to the questions which form part
of the Historic Environment Review 
process saying (amongst other things):

>If we are to include 'values' in any definition of historic environment,
how 
>are we going to answer Question 3 ?  I'm an archaeologist, not a pollster, 
>psychologist, nor even a palaeo-psychologist.  What 'new indicators' could 
>be developed to monitor change in people's values and relate these directly

>to the  conditions of the historic environment. 

Question 3, on page 7 of 'Our questions for you', asks 'Does the information

available provide a complete enough picture?  If not, what further
information 
needs to be collected?  What new indicators can be developed to monitor
change?'

Yesterday also Bette Hopkins drew our attention to MIDAS and SMR data
standards 
saying:

>As we move towards bringing our SMRs up to MIDAS standard with its 
>nationally agreed list of site types, are we perhaps steering the local 
>archaeological record further away from what people value in their own 
>region/community and ending up with a collection of stereotyped examples of

>what we as archaeologists collectively have deemed important?
>
>Of course we can add local terms to our individual SMRs, but let's face it,

>if a monument is not considered of outstanding local or national
importance, 
>then it has little hope of statutory protection.  

The Historic Environment Review discussion papers make mention of the
records
that we are making in several places:

p 8, 'Understanding' 'The records we make of the historic environment are
also
part of the historic environment, illuminating its significance and
sometimes
standing in for the thing itself...'

p14, 'Belonging' 'Information management underpins every educational and
interpretation
initiative.  A lot of information exists, produced by many institutions,
societies
and individuals, but its value can only be exploited if it is
accessible....' 

p7, 'Experiencing'  'to use the historic environment to inform and educate
the 
public in the most inspiring and enjoyable manner by providing excellent
visitor
experience and customer service, and to supplement this through new
technology
by virtual experience and easy access to good information'

p9 'Caring' 'Effective management of the historic environment requires
knowledge and 
understanding.  Without understanding, regulation will always be negative,
stopping
things happening without making the right things happen.  The best way to
increase
the effectiveness of regulation is therfore probably the provision of better
information and skills to ensure that the right decisions are taken
speedily,
confidently and consistently'.

Do SMR officers think that the information that we are maintaining reflects
the values 
that people place in the historic environment, is accessible, inspiring and
at the same 
time enables the right decisions to be made?


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