Back to mapping information resources
The purpose of the consultancy is to provide a 'map' of information systems dealing with the historic environment across the United Kingdom, identifying gaps in coverage and areas of overlap.
The output from the consultancy will inform discussions in the Historic Environment Information Resources Network (HEIRNET) and future development work across the UK.
The consultancy will be funded by a number of organisations from HEIRNET. Project management will be through the Council for British Archaeology (CBA), guided by HEIRNET members.
A number of recent separate initiatives have begun to show the full potential of an integrated information system for British archaeology. In Scotland full online access to the National Monuments Record has been provided by the Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) and network links are now being made with three Sites & Monuments records (SMRs) to provide seamless access to detailed information on the sites in their Regions. The SCRAN project (Scottish Cultural Resources Access Network), part of the National Grid for Learning, is building up over 1.5 million digital resources for educational use. In Wales the Royal Commission on the Ancient & Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW) has established the Extended National Database (ENDEX) which pools the core site data from all SMRs, Cadw and the Commission into a single index. RCAHMW also plans to place its Nonconformist Chapels database on the web by the autumn. In England the Excavation Index of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME) has been mounted on the Internet via the Archaeology Data Service. Other key sets of information, such as the RCHME Microfilm Index, are due to follow soon. Baseline studies of SMRs in England and Scotland are now underway or in prospect, following one published for Wales in 1996. Bids are being prepared in England, Scotland and Wales for Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) to enhance and develop the SMR network in their respective countries. Enhancements to the Monuments & Buildings Record in Northern Ireland are also underway. Other significant datasets, such as the British & Irish Archaeology Bibliography, are also being prepared for online access, and a number of archaeology museum online database projects are now underway, for example Hampshire County Council Museums Service's online catalogue.
Technology now exists to allow all digital resources to be linked within a networked environment to enable cross domain discovery. This will revolutionise access to information for research, management and education. The online catalogue being mounted on the Internet by the Archaeology Data Service, including research datasets such as the CBA's Radiocarbon Index and the Implement Petrology Committee's database on stone implements, makes use of new protocols, such as Z39.50, which allow any number of distributed databases to be searched from a single computer terminal located anywhere in the world.
HEIRNET was set up in July 1998 by the CBA to facilitate cooperation between organisations across the UK. Its brief is to:
In consultation with HEIRNET, the consultant will produce a report, in hard copy and digital form. The report will:
Day to day liaison will be provided by Dr Mike Heyworth at the CBA (HEIRNET Secretary).
The consultant will report to HEIRNET for progress monitoring and feedback. The next meeting of HEIRNET is scheduled for 26 October 1998 in Edinburgh and the consultant will be expected to attend that meeting to report on progress.
Work will commence as soon as possible and the report should ideally be completed by 20 December 1998, though the end date is open to negotiation.
It is anticipated that the consultant will need to travel widely to visit key organisations and meet relevant staff, as well as conducting discussions by telephone and letter.
A Project Steering Committee has been established by HEIRNET, consisting of Mr Barrett (ALGAO), Mr Clubb (RCHME), Mr James (RCAHMW), Mrs Murray (RCAHMS) and Mr Dawson (MGC), which will be available to provide guidance during the course of the consultancy.
Technical guidance will be available from Paul Miller of the Archaeology Data Service at the University of York.
There are a number of relevant documents, either already available or currently in preparation, which will be made available to the consultant for background reference material. HEIRNET members will aim to keep the consultant in contact with developments within their own organisation as it is recognised that there are a number of relevant developments currently in progress or in prospect.
The deliverables, and all data and analysis used as part of the consultancy, will be the copyright of the Council for British Archaeology. All members of HEIRNET will be granted an unrestricted license to use the deliverables and data and analysis used in the course of the consultancy (though confidentiality of detailed information will be respected in any external use of the information).
HEIRNET will publish the deliverables from the consultancy on the CBA web site, and in printed format on demand, to ensure wide dissemination of the results of the consultancy and to maximise its value to the wider archaeological community.
The consultant will be credited as the primary author on all publications which directly flow from the consultancy work.
Rather than inviting formal tenders for the consultancy work, at this stage we are simply seeking expressions of interest from individuals or organisations who wish to be considered. Please enclose a full CV.
Expressions of interest should be submitted to Dr Mike Heyworth at the CBA (St Mary's House, 66 Bootham, York YO30 7BZ, tel 01904 671417, fax 01904 671384, email m.heyworth@dial.pipex.com) by Friday 7 August 1998.
Anyone seeking further information is invited to contact Dr Heyworth for an informal discussion.
Document last revised: 29 October 1998 by Mike Heyworth