It should still be possible to search for 'charred plant remains' even though the information would be stored in two different fields. At least that is my understanding of the situation. May be something our SMR/Her colleagues can answer?

With best wishes,

Gill

-----Original Message-----
From: Monckton, A. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 24 January 2005 15:09
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [FISH] e-conference -enviornmental terms; thesauri and defintions

Dear All,

I hoped that 'Charred plant remains' would appear as a term itself although this is a combination of material and preservation.

I think this because they are really an artefact, being made by human activity. If crop remains are included they are even more of an artefact, it takes a year to grow and process a crop while a pot can be made in a day or two, although both require the knowledge and experience to produce.

Also charred plant remains are found on almost every excavation, the term appears on reports so is easy to include.

Pollen, charcoal and parasites appear to be terms to be used directly so perhaps 'charred plants' can also.

However I admit I am not familiar with how this data is to be stored or retreived, I suppose there may be times when all 'vegetable data' or all 'animal data' may be needed. I have only thought that I would like to find out all sites with a certain type of data say Pollen, or all the classes of environmental finds from a particular site or group of sites.

Angela Monckton

-----Original Message-----
From: The Forum for Information Standards in Heritage (FISH) [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of CAMPBELL, Gill
Sent: 24 January 2005 14:15
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [FISH] e-conference -enviornmental terms; thesauri and defintions

Dear All,

Moving on nicely from Gail's introduction of the idea 'standards lists' of specialists terms and Angela Monkton's reference to the need for thesauri I have been working with a number of colleagues both inside and outside the group on the development of specialist terms for use in Dominque's proposed form. http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/files/FISH/ArchSci_DdM_table_1-05.doc

As a starting point for this work we began with the subject codes in the Environmental Archaeology Bibography. For background to the Environmental Archaeology Bibliography see http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/files/FISH/ArchSci_GCEAB_deposit.doc or visit EAB at http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?eab_eh_2004

Edmund Lee of the EH Data Standards Unit then took these codes and showed how they might be mapped to FISH standards. We then refined and re-classified subjects as necessary to come up with a list of draft (candidate) terms which we hope we will cover most areas but which we would love feed-back on as part of our discussions.

A draft list of terms for object type, state, material and investigative technique (see Dominique's form) are included as two excel sheets in the filestore http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/files/FISH/ArchSci_GC_environmental_codes_v7.xls (Please let me know if you can't read excel and I will provide the lists in a different format). Notes on these terms have also been placed in the filestore http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/files/FISH/ArchSci_GCnotes_on_environmental_terms.doc.

In developing terms for object type (artefact/ ecofact) I consulted the MDA Object Thesaurus and looked at what was already included and what might need adding. I went through a similar process for State (modification state) and Material type, although with these last two fields, separate thesauri might be needed. There has then been much head scratching, brain-storming with colleagues, and hi-jacking of colleagues to get to this point. I am extremely grateful for all the help and suggestions received.

The development of investigative technique has undergone a similar process, although in this case the only thesaurus available was that for scientific dating (http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/files/FISH/ArchSciGC_ADS_Scientific_Date_Methods.doc).

When developing new terms we have tried to concentrate on what researchers would search on, rather than covering everything or going into too much detail. Thus it will be possible to search on plant remains but not on cereal grain or chaff.

The process has also involved some compromise. For example the term parasite remains has been included under object type, even though it is really only a way of living and can apply to a number of types of animal or plant. However people may want to search on this term (there are 83 entries in EAB).

It may also seem that we have included some terms which will hardly ever be used. Where these have been included it is because we believe that there will be a need in the future e.g. there are a number of recent reports dealing with testate amoebae. Other terms can be added in future or modified as necessary.

The terms we have come up with and the approach adopted mirrors the work that we have already seen in the Worcestershire HER and in the EAR for Surrey. However there are some differences such as the separation of mineralised into mineral-replaced and mineral preserved. This is partly a reflection of moving away from the consideration of environmental work into the realms of investigative conservation and finds.

Another difference is the inclusion of pollen as a material type rather than an object type (ecofact type) because it is part of a plant rather than a particular type of plant. Also, I have included phosphates under investigative technique (contra EAR) as this is a technique carried out on a material

We would particularly welcome feedback on what terms you would like to be able to search on and what level of detail is required.

Happy reading!

With best wishes,

Gill Campbell

Head of Environmental Studies (Acting)

English Heritage

Fort Cumberland

Fort Cumberland Road,

Portsmouth

P04 9LD

tel: 02392 856780

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Dominique de Moulins (Dr.)

English Heritage Archaeological Science Advisor for the South-East

Institute of Archaeology

31-34 Gordon Square

London WCIH OPY

tel: 020 7679 1539

mobile: 07970541897