Nick

There are a number a different issues raised in your posting.

<when does an event become an event?>

Perhaps a definition of event might be useful (easier said than done). Here in Lincolnshire we follow the definition that was agreed by ALGAO. For us an event is the collection of primary data (including null data) of a single data type, within a definable spatial area, at a particular date and by a particular data collector. Therefore, we do not class a Desk-Based Assessment (DBA) as an event, but would class the report from a DBA as a source. If the DBA report included information on a walk-over survey carried out on the site then we would create an event record for that event (collection of primary data from the site on a particular day, by a particular person or organisation). A DBA is usually the collection and interpretation of data from a variety of different places: SMR data, information from previous work done on or near the site, historic mapping from a records office, etc.

Having said that, the MIDAS definition is somewhat wider and includes "any event , or activity which has enabled information to be gathered or a judgement to be made about a monument in a particular activity" (MIDAS manual p.14). By this definition a DBA which collects together and reinterprets the existing primary and secondary data that is available for a monument could be called an event. These types of events are sometimes usefully referred to as 'interpretation events'; a term which does serve to distinguish them from the more precisely defined events of ALGAO. The document 'Informing the Future of the Past: Guidelines for SMRs' edited by K. Fernie and P. Gilman is quite useful (Section C6 especially).

< A contractor comes in and looks at the SMR for a DBA>

I would record this as an SMR visit and not record it in HBSMR as we have a separate system for SMR visitors and correspondence as opposed to consultations by planning authorities or statutory undertakers. In theory, if the visit was being made to help fulfil a planning condition which my development control colleagues had recommended to the planning authority then a note of the visit could be made in the HBSMR consultation record. In practice we rarely do this.

<How to record a visit by a contractor for a non-dc scheme>

We would have a record of the visit in the record of SMR visitors.

We usually chase up reports that have not been received by using the annual summary of work carried out in the county published in the local archaeological journal. We work with the editors in the production of this annual round up anyway. I have no doubt that we do miss some reports, and yes I do worry about it, but the number of reports missed is very small. 

I hope this is of some help to you.

Mark Bennet
Lincolnshire SMR
Lincolnshire County Council


>>> Nick Boldrini <[log in to unmask]> 03/05/02 14:43:18 >>>
Hello folks and apologies for cross posting

Here in North Yorkshire we have just migrated to HBSMR and are working on a data standard for inputting backlog/new data to try and get some standardisation in inputting set up.

One of the discussions we have has had is essentially when does an event become an event? Slightly abstract, but it needs to be agreed to make sure we (IE all NY SMR users) are all recording the same things

For example, a contractor comes in and looks at the SMR for a DBA. Would people record this as an event (DBA) or consultation (SMR Visit) and only record the Event when you receive a report?

The issue driving this is that often, we only hear about certain types of work in this way (an SMR visit by a contractor) for example non-dc pipeline schemes. SO we would like to record something as having happened so we can (in due course) try and chase up a copy of a report, but as we are unsure if or what work has happened, it is difficult to know how to record this.

DO other people worry about this? Do other people record these sort of things? If so how? I can think of a variety of ways to record this in HBSMR, but am curious to know how, or if, other people do this.

thanks in advance

PS I had marmite and peanut butter sarnies for lunch - YUM!

Nick Boldrini
SMR Computing Officer
Heritage Unit
North Yorkshire County Council
Direct Dial (01609) 532331

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