>
>What does is that you understand your data (NB *not* the bits of pot,
>bone, whatever you're archiving, but the data which will represent it),
>and understanding the best way of organising that data. Once you've got
>that down on paper you can implement it in the system of your choice.

Could not agree more with this. Applies no matter what data you are going to
use. Changing things later is a pain if you need to, far more work than
giving it a bit of thought before you start.

>
> >Have to say that I am coming at this from a technical viewpoint and
>not an Archaeological
> >one due to being an IT person and not an Archaeologist.....
>
>One thing this debate seems to show is that there is a need to invest
>some time and resources in working out the best methods for the storage
>of digital data. Unless they've had sufficient training, it's no more
>feasible for an archaeologist to start building databases systems, than
>it is for a database designer to pick up a trowel and start digging a site.
>

Too true. Bu there *are* good books on learning about databases, not so many
on Archaeology though......

Take care

David D.
The Mediaeval Combat Society
http://www.montacute.net/mcs/index.htm
The Historical Reenactment Web Site
http://www.histrenact.co.uk