I wasn't at Warwick. What was apparent there? And what is this list for?
I agree that some of the recent postings have been lacking something, but I
am prepared to put up with a few irrational outpourings if I can keep in
touch with what's happening SMR-wise across the UK. We far-flung SMRs need
more than most to keep in touch with the rest. But perhaps we are just
irrelevant to those of you in the home counties - we're a long way north of
Watford here!
Unfortunately it was impossible for me to get to Warwick, as it is to attend
any of the meetings. Travel from Inverness to Warwick effectively takes a
whole day (each way). Presumably the real debate goes on there and not on
the list? Surely it should be possible to put minutes and agendas of these
meetings online with ongoing discussion via the list? If so, why restrict
yourselves to those within easy reach of the English Midlands, who can
attend meetings in any case? Is there not an opportunity here to bring in
others and even to widen the debate further to Ireland and Europe?
I find the use of the list as an Exegesis help-line as an irritation and an
irrelevance. Or am I mistaken and this is a club for Exegesis users only?
We don't have Exegesis or plans to get it. Never mind the minutiae of
getting Exegesis to work. For non-users like us, (and no doubt for Crispin
too) it would be useful to hear comments on how it performs overall, and its
advantages and shortcomings - come on, some of you have recently adopted it
- what is your reaction? What about other people with other systems?
But it seems to me there are deeper and more important issues for the list -
what about the very role of SMRs in the 21st Century? Why are we keeping
them at all? Where is the vision?
In Scotland, there is now CANMAP - online searchable national map based
records. I understand that the RCAHMS plan to go on eventually to mark the
maps not just with grid references and indications of their accuracy but
with the actual polygons defining the sites. Fine - if that's what everyone
wants but all this was done unilaterally. SMRs are not a statutory local
authority function. Perhaps I should recommend to my Council that
continuing to maintain our own SMR is a waste of scarce resources and we
hand it all over to the RCAHMS to maintain? How can I justify the
duplication of effort? Bear in mind that this SMR is hardly 'local' for
those highland residents who live 100 miles or more away from Inverness.
It could all have been so different. We could have had a network of HEIRs
linked electronically and maintained locally, with central search engines
(like ADS) assisting wide area searches. The network could have developed
and linked across national boundaries throughout the UK and Ireland and
beyond. Think of the benefits (archaeological, economic etc) that would
have brought.
Surely a list like this might be a place to do some so-called 'blue-skies'
strategic thinking and look at the practical consequences of the results?
Perhaps we need to rethink some basic assumptions? Why not?
John
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
John Wood
Inverness
This is a personal, not an official communication, and any opinions
expressed do not necessarily represent those of my employer. It is
confidential and intended for the exclusive use of the addressee(s) only.
You should not disclose its contents to any other person. If you are not the
intended recipient please notify the sender named above immediately.
-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Sydes [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 24 June 2002 11:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: HBSMR top tips ?
Blimey list lurker's! Well, after last Friday's whimper of a week-ending
it's good to kick start this week with a bit of exciting controversy!
Thanks Hal.
;-)) Any offers?
Bob
-----Original Message-----
From: Bishop, Hal [ mailto:[log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> ]
Sent: 24 June 2002 09:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: HBSMR top tips ?
Crispin. Excellent idea - anything useful or practical - the majority of the
e-mails on the SMR forum are, as you well know, opinionated or irrational
outpourings of navel-gazers with little relevance to the real world: You
were at Warwick where it was all too apparent,
Hal Bishop
Archaeology Officer
Torbay Council
-----Original Message-----
From: Crispin Flower [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, June 21, 2002 11:42 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: HBSMR top tips ?
Dear list members
In the car back from Warwick yesterday we came up with the idea of
putting weekly "HBSMR Top Tips" onto the SMRForum list. This might be useful
INI file settings, keyboard shortcuts, new features etc. etc.
Could people let me know off-list whether they think this would be
useful, or whether they get quite enough emails already
thank-you-very-much...? We'll go with the majority.
Thanks
Crispin
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Crispin Flower
exeGesIS SDM Ltd.
Great House Barn
Talgarth
Powys
LD3 0AH
Tel: 01874 712145/711145
Fax: 01874 711156
email: [log in to unmask]
URL: www.esdm.co.uk
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**********************************************************************
The views and comments expressed in this email are confidential to the
recipients
and should not be passed on to others without permission. This email message
does
not necessarily express the views of Bath & North East Somerset Council and
should
be considered personal unless there is a specific statement to the contrary.
This footnote also confirms that this email message has been checked for all
known viruses by the MessageLabs Virus Scanning Service.
Making Bath & North East Somerset a better place to Live, Work and Visit.
**********************************************************************
|