I thought academics (whatever that means) had an obligation to publish?
Allow their sites to be destroyed because they didn't tell anyone!
Surely they should want their site protected
Why not join some of these local societies? 

-----Original Message-----
From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of THOMAS, Roger M
Sent: 13 October 2006 16:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Research and the Management of the Historic Environment

Dear all

A few Friday afternoon thoughts on this.

I suspect that because university-based archaeologists and local
societies are generally outside the 'curatorial' world, they simply
don't tend to think in these terms.

Also, I wouldn't automatically assume that university-based
archaeologists and local societies would necessarily welcome 'official'
involvement in what they are doing. There may even be a worry that this
could lead to (e.g.) scheduling and curtailment/external control of
their work. At the least, people may worry that their excavation could
be officially frowned on in an age of 'preservation in situ'. (I'm not
saying that any of this is right, just that it may be how some people
see it.)

Maybe one way of moving things on would be to try and get those bodies
which give grants for fieldwork (AHRC? RAI? Antiquaries?) to encourage
grant recipients to liaise with the relevant HER, deposit their results,
etc. (I would suggest 'encourage' rather than, e.g. asking that it be
made a condition of grant - at least at first.) As you know, there's a
lot of emphasis on public access and public benefit these days,
including for academe I think. Maybe help with that would be something
that the groups you are talking about would welcome as much as (or more
than?) the prospect of having their site 'protected'?

Roger

-----Original Message-----
From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nick Boldrini
Sent: 12 October 2006 16:13
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Research and the Management of the Historic Environment

Hello peeps

we have recently been having a bit of discussion in the office (more of
a minor rant really..) but thought it might be of interest.

We sometimes find it difficult to find out what Academic based
researchers are up to in our area even when we know they are researching
in our area. And there are probably a fair few we don't know about at
all. This sort of problem also applies to Local Societies sometimes.

Often, we know they are doing fieldwork, but don't always get included
in the information loop of what they have done and where. This might be
because they may not think we are interested, or just don't think to
inform us.

When we are included, it is also sometimes difficult to get data in a
way that makes entry into the HER easy.

All of this means it is difficult for us to manage the Historic
Environment as often we won't know something is there unless we get a
panicked phone call.

This is becoming more of a problem for FEP areas, as these are usually
in the rural bits researchers often seem to prefer. Without the data it
is difficult to advise appropriate management.

Do others have this problem? Is it a national one? Regional? Local? Is
it just us....

Anyone got any ideas how we can try and persuade people to think of
depositing information relating to their research directly with the HER
- rather than publishing it in a journal the HER doesn't subscribe to
and assuming we'll find out about it? I do look through the periodicals
we do get to see if we have missed anything, but often this might be
years after an event has happened, and we only subscribe to a limited
number anyway.

Hopefully the benefit we can "sell" is obvious - let us know and we can
protect this wonderful stuff you've found.

Is there an Archaeological Academics of HERForum we could target to try
and spread the word about HER's and the value of research work to
Heritage management?

any ideas/experience appreciated

best wishes

Nick Boldrini
Historic Environment Record Officer
Heritage Section
Countryside Service
North Yorkshire County Council
County Hall
Northallerton
DL7 8AH
Direct Dial (01609) 532331

Conserving North Yorkshire's heritage - encouraging sustainable access
www.northyorks.gov.uk/archaeology 

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