Hello David,
In MIDAS terms this is a classic 'unit of record' issue i.e. what rules
should be applied to structure complex data in a useful way. MIDAS, having
raised the issue (p.25 in the printed manual, section headed 'What will an
entry in your inventory cover') doesn't offer hard and fast guidance.
It suggests
"As a rule of thumb, if a lot of information is available about the subject
matter of your inventory then a more detailed approach may well be an
advantage, dividing the information up between separate entries in order to
make the detail available effectively to users. If only sketchy or
questionable information is available, a broader definition, producing a
smaller number of entries, will be easier to retrieve and manage."
Applied in this case, if there is a detailed set of reports on the various
interventions along the route, then separate recording seems the best
approach, with a parent record and detailed 'child' records relating to each
intervention. If, however you were dealing with a 1970s source that
suggested e.g. "fieldwalking took place along the route of the road north of
the village and at the intersection with the A213" then it might not be
worth treating that as two separaet event records.
'Horses for courses' in other words.
A second edition of MIDAS is in the planning stages, so if anyone can
improve on this approach I'd be interested to hear.
Ed
English Heritage
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Evans [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 07 November 2003 17:05
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Linear Events
>
>
> I know it's Friday but most of you will get this on Monday.
> Any ideas on how best to record events connected with pipelines, roads
> and motorways. I give the whole run one number and each intrusion an
> individual number, but I am not totally happy with this method
> especially for the older events eg the M4 and M5.
> Ps does anyone (else)have motorways on their HERs/SMRs
>
>
> Thank you
> David Evans
> Historic Environment Record Officer
> 01454 863649
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