...that's over to me then I guess - thanks Catherine!
OGAR (the Online Guide to Archaeological Research) has not been
comprehensively updated for some time. It was funded initially as a
pilot to gauge demand, and always with the idea that technology was
developing fast and more automated harvesting of information would be
possible soon. We are looking at developing OGAR as part of the overall
enhancement of CBA's information services.
It's worth saying though that even in its present state OGAR contains
references to over a thousand research projects (including postgraduate
research), and we do still get submissions of new projects from
researchers.
The database can be searched by subject, period, area, institution or
funding body, and also has a map interface. The especially useful thing
about OGAR is that it can be cross-searched through HEIRNET, thereby
bringing up some HER data alongside ADS, PAS and other data sets.
The database is far from flawless - one persistent problem being the
fact that many research topics tend to be thematic or period-based, and
take data from many different regions (none, or not all, of which will
have been entered by the researcher when submitting their project to
OGAR). That said, it is a useful resource, and it would be good to know
that HERs were both using it, and encouraging researchers to submit
details of their projects to it.
OGAR is only an index though, and doesn't provide direct access to the
publications or reports which have emerged from research...
Dan.
________________________
Dr Dan Hull
Head of Information & Communications
Have you seen the new Community Archaeology Forum?
www.britarch.ac.uk/caf
Council for British Archaeology
St Mary's House, 66 Bootham, York, YO30 7BZ, United Kingdom.
A Company Limited by Guarantee, registered in England 1760254;
Registered Charity 287815
-----Original Message-----
From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Catherine Hardman
Sent: 19 July 2007 09:51
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: HERs and Universities
Dear All,
I've been reading the thread with interest and couldn't let my prompt go
without rushing on to the stage!
I can't speak for other universities, but here at York, all MA's are
deposited in the university library, all undergrad work kept by the
department and all PhD's deposited both in the Uni Library and BLL. For
PhDs
there is also a useful resource to look up abstracts/authors which may
be of
use to HERs looking for postgrad work done on their area. See
http://www.theses.com/ , at least you may be able to see what has been
done
and get an idea of where the information may be found.
In terms of hosting theses, we do host PhDs on archaeology from UK
universities and have circulated information to heads of departments
about
our willingness to do so. Our collection is small but growing and can be
found at http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/library/theses/index.cfm. There
are
a few more waiting to be mounted on the site, they have to take their
turn
as we undertake the work for free. Please do let postgrads (PhDs only)
know
of this service as appropriate.
We do not as a rule host MA or undergrad dissertations - we would run
the
risk of being entirely swamped by the numbers produced each year.
As far as fieldwork research within universities goes (whilst hesitating
to
open another can-o-worms) we have encouraged university academics to use
the
OASIS system to record UK field work. Hopefully this encouragement, even
if
they chose not to use the system, may lodge in their minds the need to
inform the local HER of their fieldwork and lodge results/reports with
them
by some other means. I think one of the problems with getting academics
to
do this is the frequent changes in heads on department, a role the
usually
circulates around staff every 3 years or so, and therefore a pint of
contact may change frequently. Also academics from a local university
may
not undertake fieldwork in the local area (especially with the lure of
summer in the Med!). So even if a HER gets in touch with their local uni
department then they may not get to know about work happening in their
area
by a university from the other end of the country. However, you may like
to
try using OGAR http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ogar/, I'm not sure how
comprehensive it is, or if there are any plans to continue it/update it
(enter the CBA stage left?)
Best wishes
Catherine
Catherine Hardman
Collections Development Manager
The Archaeology Data Service
Department of Archaeology
University of York
King's Manor
York
YO1 7EP
Tel: +44 (0)1904 433954
Fax: +44 (0)1904 433939
email: [log in to unmask]
http://ads.ahds.ac.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of tom evans
Sent: 18 July 2007 18:09
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: HERs and Universities
Even so, it's a bit disappointing that the students don't actually give
copies of their works to the HERS all on their own. You would have
thought
that their supervisors might even have suggested this to them as a
goodwill
gesture, at least for their Master's theses....
All the same, as Roger notes, space is problem... anyone ever consider
archiving them digitally?
(Stage Direction, prompt ADS)
________________________________
From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records on behalf of
THOMAS,
Roger M
Sent: Wed 7/18/2007 4:36 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: HERs and Universities
Dear all
I suspect that disposal of students' work is pretty commonplace - the
space
problems in universities are as bad, if not worse, as everywhere else.
There is, I think, an organisation of all the heads of university
archaeology departments in the UK. Maybe this is an issue the HER etc
world
could ask them to look at. (It's part of the much wider 'grey
literature'
problem, of course). Someone like Tim Darvill might well be interested
in
this problem.
Roger M Thomas
-----Original Message-----
From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Val Turner
Sent: 18 July 2007 15:02
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: HERs and Universities
HI
Due to past experience, we now insist that we won't give students
quantities
of SMR data until the student has signed an agreement to give us a copy
of
the work arising from it. It isn't fool proof but it helps!
Val
Val Turner
Regional Archaeologist, Shetland
Shetland Amenity Trust
Garthspool
Lerwick
Shetland ZE1 ONY
01595 694688
-----Original Message-----
From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bryant, Victoria (ACS,
Archaeology Unit)
Sent: 18 July 2007 12:39
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: HERs and Universities
I am not sure. May be we need to find out.
Victoria
-----Original Message-----
From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Nick Boldrini
Sent: 17 July 2007 16:01
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: HERs and Universities
I am quite amazed and annoyed by that.
Amazed because if the students have done any fieldwork, the university
is
destroying the primary archive of what may be the only work done for an
area.
Annoyed because university researchers are often the most demanding of
HER's
in terms of expecting us to give them everything on a plate. But their
institutions are not willing, apparently, to accept their role and
responsibility in disseminating and curating research.
It doesn't matter if the work isn't very good or well presented, if its
the
only thing known about a site it is important and useful.
Is this a common policy for all universities?
best wishes
Nick Boldrini
Historic Environment Record Officer
Heritage and Environment Section
Development and Countryside Service
Business and Environmental Services Directorate
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
This email is personal. It is not authorised by or sent on behalf of
North
Yorkshire County Council, however, the Council has the right and does
inspect emails sent from and to its computer system. This email is the
sole
responsibility of the sender
>>> Gregory Chuter <[log in to unmask]> 17/07/2007 15:22
>>>
Victoria, we are currently discussing with our local university a scheme
by
which we can archive HER relevant student projects as grey reports on
our
HER. Rather alarmingly at the moment the university only archives its
PhD
material and the diploma, BA and MA projects are destroyed.
Greg Chuter,
Archaeologist
East Sussex County Council, Transport and Environment, County Hall, St
Anne's Crescent, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 1UE
Tel: 01273 481608, Fax: 01273 479536, E-mail:
[log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bryant, Victoria (ACS,
Archaeology Unit)
Sent: 17 July 2007 15:02
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: HERs and Universities
Dear All
Please can any one help me with this. I am trying to find out
1. How many HERs have any sort of formal agreement with archaeology
departments in British Universities (ie on the same campus or affiliated
or
teach courses)
2. How many curatorial archaeologists have any sort of formal agreement
with
archaeology departments in British Universities (ie on the same campus
or
affiliated or teach courses)
3. How many commercial archaeological organisations have any sort of
formal
agreement with archaeology departments in British Universities (ie on
the
same campus or affiliated or teach courses).
If you know either directly or indirectlyI would be grateful for any
inforamtion
Thanks
Victoria Bryant
Historic Environment Record Manager
Worcestershire Historic Environment and Archaeology Service
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