Dear all
I would whole hearted support the need for a quantity measure in MIDAS, I have often thought this would be useful to record. We have introduced a quantity measure into HBSMR for finds which has been a useful addition, and the same for monument types would be an obvious step. 

It seems more logical to me to call the unit "quantity" rather than "extent".

Best wishes
Sarah
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of CARLISLE, Phil
Sent: 09 June 2006 09:19
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Multiple Indexing


Hi everyone
I'd just like to clear up any misunderstanding of what we mean by multiple indexing.

I think all the issues have already been covered by both Tanja and Crispin but Simon has raised a pertinent point too ie that Monarch used to have a quantity field.

This is indeed the case and the field is still retained, although much underused, in the current incarnation of the NMRs database AMIE.

The issues relating to multiple indexing are the following.

1. If there is uncertainty as to what the monument is then both monument types should be indexed. Eg. if you have a mound in a field which could be a barrow or it could be a windmill mound, then you would double index (ie MULTIPLE INDEX) with both BARROW and WINDMILL MOUND.

2. If you have a monument type which is a non-preferred term which is represented in the thesaurus by two terms. Eg. Abbey Gate then you double index with ABBEY and GATE

3. If you have multiple monument types associated with one site eg. a BARROW CEMETERY which includes different BARROW types. In this instance you could just index as BARROW CEMETERY or you could multiple index with, BARROW CEMETERY, ROUND BARROW, DISC BARROW, BOWL BARROW etc.

4. If you have multiple occurrences of the same Monument Type eg. Chris's example of 1300 Inhumations then you (could) double index the record with INHUMATION CEMETERY and INHUMATION.

Our suggestion is that we create a MIDAS unit of information called EXTENT. 

This would apply to monuments in the same way that ARCHIVE EXTENT is used.

ARCHIVE EXTENT allows you to say how many items you have in a collection. So, for example, you can say in the BEDFORD LEMERE collection there are 52 boxes of photos. This means you don't have to create individual records for each box as all you are doing is signposting the size of the collection.

Thus, Chris's example would appear as something like:

PERIOD		MONUMENT TYPE		EXTENT/QUANTITY
ANGLO-SAXON		INHUMATION CEMETERY	1
ANGLO-SAXON		INHUMATION			1300

This would allow anyone searching for large inhumation cemeteries with high numbers of burials.

For the most part the EXTENT/QUANTITY field could default to 1 with the ability to overwrite if/when necessary.

We've only just started thinking about whether this should be included and welcome input from the HER community. Any thoughts on whether you think the addition of this unit of information would be useful, or not, would be greatly appreciated.

I hope I've managed to assuage any fears people had about having to reindex millions of records.

Phil

Phil Carlisle
Data Standards Supervisor
National Monuments Record Centre
Kemble Drive 
Swindon
SN2 2GZ
+44 (0)1793 414824
 

The information contained within this e-mail is confidential and may be privileged. It is intended for the addressee only. If you have received the e-mail in error, please inform the sender and delete it from your system. The contents of this e-mail must not be disclosed to anyone else or copied without the sender's consent.

Any views and opinions expressed in this message are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of English Heritage. English Heritage will not take any responsibility for the views of the author.


-----Original Message-----
From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nicholson, Andrew
Sent: 08 June 2006 16:34
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Multiple Indexing

> When you revisit this, bear in mind what is reasonable. 
> 1300 inhumations were recently excavated from a single site 
> in the city. This is recorded as a inhimation cemtery.  I 
> refuse to create additional 1300 records!
> 

Likewise for 132 small cairns in a cairnfield.

Andy

Andrew Nicholson
SMR Officer
Planning and Environment (Archaeology)
Dumfries and Galloway Council
Tel: 01387 260154    
Fax: 01387 260149
mailto:[log in to unmask]
http://www.dumgal.gov.uk

Any email message sent or received by the Council may require to be
disclosed by the Council under the provisions of the Freedom of Information
(Scotland) Act 2002.


 

The information in this email is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended solely for the addressee. If you receive this email by mistake please notify the sender and delete it immediately. Opinions expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Cambridgeshire County Council. All sent and received email from Cambridgeshire County Council is automatically scanned for the presence of computer viruses and security issues.