26th March 2010, 11:27 AM
(This post was last modified: 26th March 2010, 11:33 AM by destroyingangel.)
Quote:DCMS intends to publish guidance for local authorities on the maintenance of HERs.
Basically we are waiting for the Heritage Protection Bill to finally get implemented... if it ever does. I think the government has enough 'problems' with the unremitting credit crunch (sure that is a breakfast cereal), national debt, upcoming elections and sleaze. I suppose little things like the country's heritage is small feed at the moment.
DCMS produced draft guidance for HERs in May 2008 (including a section on 'Statutory HERs' in line with the draft Heritage Protection Bill). We have been waiting for what seems a long time... still waiting.
As for access and the 'trauma' of having to use a HER... Yes, some archaeolgists think that they can do archaeology without using a HER (or any background information), thinking that they are an archaeology god, supreme being or oracle (some do unfortunately). Even though having been in archaeology for many years (and under different guises), I could never, ever say that I knew everything about the archaeology of this country, region, my town or even my own back garden. If need be, I could access 'tinternet things (NMR, Listed Buildings Online, Magic... whatever) to get a fair bit of background, but it isn't the whole picture is it? HERs are more than GIS and Databases, they are aerial photographs, publications, documents and... yes... grey literature reports. Remember that not everything available is on the net, not everyone has access to the net and that a fair amount of what is on the net is complete rubbish (ie wiki) and can't be trusted. The people that work in HERs are also (generally) helpful... providing information and guidance.
Furthermore, HERs are not there for just planners, curators, HER staff, county mounties, consultants and contracting archaeologists... they are there (I would like to stress this) for everyone to use (and more-often-than-not free of charge if you visit one). When they do charge, it is usually (if you can't or won't go in) for time taken to do your search, inevitable print outs, datasets, emails and postage. The service is for academic and non-academic research (ie students), community involvement (interested groups, community digs), specialists, even developers who can then argue a toss with curators, through to Joe and Joanna public who want to know a little bit of history about their back yard.
Give me a HER anyday. Yes, make them accountable, worthwhile and up-to-standard across the board... above all make them statutory and sort out funding for them.
... and aren't "Victorian bottle dumps" archaeology per se?