Dear All,
At the recent meeting of the Portable Antiquities/SMR Working Group the
issue of the proper representation of Finds in SMRs was raised. It was
pointed out that the Monument/Event model does not really provide for Finds
which may be either an adjunct to a site record (ie essentially a 'child'
record) or may be the sole archaeological information for that location (ie
essentially a 'parent' record). The solution adopted in exeGesIS is to
record the latter as a Findspot monument linked to Finds records. This
raises the problem that a Findspot is not really a monument at all but is
essentially an Event record. The discussion raised two main questions:
1) How do we wish to convert Portable Antiquities data into SMR records in
the short/medium term? The Portable Antiquities scheme is at present
intending to create a new Finds recording system to be introduced with the
planned expansion of the scheme. In the short term however, which may be a
year or two or even more, we need to introduce the Portable Antiquities data
into SMRs in a meaningful way. To date the intention has been to convert the
data in exeGesIS records using the approach provided for by the software ie
Findspot monuments linked to Finds records. Given the problems of the
Monument/Event model for Finds are people happy for this to continue as an
interim measure? If not what do you suggest? (Personally given that it took
years to produce the Monument/Event model in the first place I would have
thought that sticking with the Findspot approach for the interim conversion
is the only real option at this stage)
2) In the longer term we do need to deal with the larger problem of the
proper representation of Finds in SMRs. Can Finds truly fit into the
Monument/Event model? If not what does this say about the long-term
viability of the Monument/Event model? How are people representing Finds in
their SMRs/GISs and does this really matter anyway?
Any suggestions, particularly at this stage to question 1) will be welcomed.
Issue 2) has been bubbling away for a long time but again what do people
think?
Paul Cuming
SMR Officer
Kent County Council
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