26th February 2007, 07:47 PM
Jsut to clarify
Here is what I say (albeit to do with buildings.. but it makes the point)
Historic Building Recording
Guidance for Curators and Commercial Archaeological Contractors
East Lothian Council Archaeology Service
13
3. Desk-Based Assessments
3.1. Definition and Purpose of Desk-Based Assessments
The IFA define Desk-Based Assessments as:-
ââ¦a programme of assessment of the known or potential archaeological
resource within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or
underwater. It consists of a collation of existing written, graphic,
photographic and electronic information in order to identify the likely
character, extent, quality and worth of the known or potential archaeological
resource in a local, regional, national or international context as appropriateâ
(IFA 1999).
The purpose2 of Desk-Based Assessments is also defined, by the IFA, as:-
ââ¦to gain information about the known or potential archaeological [historical
and architectural] resource within a given area or site (including presence or
absence, character and extent, date, integrity, state of preservation and
relative quality of the potential archaeological resource), in order to make an
assessment of its merit in contextâ¦â
ELCAS would further define the purpose of DBAs as:-
1. To equip the recorder with sufficient background information about
the development site in advance of going into the field (for example,
expected architectural features or chronological changes);
2. To gain information on the archaeological and historical resource;
and,
3. To put the findings of the survey into context
Therefore the generic term Desk-Based Assessment perhaps should be
further divided into three different types of desk-based research:
1) Archival Appraisal (of predominantly secondary sources)
2) Detailed Archive Research (of predominantly secondary sources but
also some primary source material)
3) Comprehensive Archive Research (of primary and secondary
sources).
2 DBAâs are also undertaken as part of consultancy work and in this case, a DBA may be accompanied by
mitigation recommendations
Historic Building Recording
Guidance for Curators and Commercial Archaeological Contractors
East Lothian Council Archaeology Service
14
3.2. Level of DBA required.
ELCAS policy is that a certain degree of DBA will always be required in
advance of any form of field-work. The purpose of desk-based assessments
is to gain information on the archaeological and architectural resource in
order to make both an assessment of its merit/potential in context, but also
leading to an appropriate level of fieldwork and further research, if necessary
and/or appropriate.
Three types of DBA are defined below with each DBA type enhancing the
previous.
3.2.1. Archival Appraisal:
An archive appraisal should always be undertaken before any form of fieldwork.
It includes a familiarisation with the most available and easily
accessible records such as the National Monuments Record Scotland
(including aerial photographs), National Map Library, Historic Environment
Record/Sites and Monuments Record, Statutory List of Buildings of Special
Architectural or Historic Interest and the Inventory of Gardens and Designed
Landscapes. This level of DBA will equip the recorder with sufficient
background information about the development site, in advance of going into
the field.
3.2.2. Detailed Archive Research:
A more detailed archive research will include an initial archive appraisal and
further research to put the findings of the survey work in context. It will
include a more detailed examination of archived records such as the
National Monuments Record Scotland (including aerial photographs),
National Map Library, Historic Environment Record/Sites and Monuments
Record, Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic
Interest and Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in addition to
the Local Studies Records, the National Archives of Scotland, Estate
Plans/ Town Plans (where available) and Statistical Accounts. This level
of DBA will equip the recorder with sufficient evidence about the
development site to provide an account that complements the fieldwork
report. The archaeological contractor should list what sources will be
consulted in both the Written Scheme of Investigation and final Data
Structure Report.
3.2.3. Comprehensive Archive Research:
A comprehensive archive research builds on the aims and objectives of the
detailed archive research by undertaking an in depth examination of
archived records such the National Monuments Record Scotland (including
aerial photographs), National Map Library, Historic Environment Record/
Sites and Monuments Record, Statutory List of Buildings of Special
Architectural or Historic Interest, Inventory of Gardens and Designed
Landscapes, Local Studies Records, the National Archives of Scotland and
Historic Building Recording
Guidance for Curators and Commercial Archaeological Contractors
East Lothian Council Archaeology Service
15
Estate Plans/ Town Plans (where available) as well as Statistical Accounts.
Further work can be carried out by looking at deeds, wills,
manuscripts, charters, MOD collections, mining records, newspaper
archives, local historical society collections, journals and magazines,
paintings and prints, previous relevant site surveys, Burgh and Local
Authority records, Dean of Guild records etc. The advice of an
architectural historian should also be considered to compliment the
desk-based research undertaken and the findings of the historic
building recording survey3. This level of DBA will equip the researcher
with detailed evidence and records about the site, locale and associated
characters to provide a comprehensive account that can form a distinct and
complete part of any final report. The archaeological contractor should list
what sources will be consulted.
âUnderstanding a historic building is the first step towards
decisions about management, repair and alteration. By
identifying architectural, historic and archaeological
interest, the analysis of fabric and structure contributes to
successful conservation, which carefully balances the
significance of the building, the owner's requirements and
appropriate techniques.â
Town House, Haddington ALGAO 1997
It should be noted that during the course of appraising what information is
available for a given site, the researcher may identify additional and relevant
sources of information that to collate would fall out with the remit of the level
of DBA required. ELCAS strongly recommend that rather than discounting
this information from inclusion within the DBA report, a summary of the
resources should be listed, thereby allowing the prospective reader to locate
this additional information and/or the curator to recommend further research
work.
3.3. Sources of information
The following sources of information should be used as a matter of course:
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Buildings of Scotland
Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest
Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes
Historic Environment Record/Sites and Monuments Record
The National Library of Scotland
3 If the advice of an architectural historian is a prerequisite to the successful interpretative aspect of the
HBR report this should be clearly stipulated in the Specification Checklist âDesk Based Assessment
Levelâ field and/or project design.
Historic Building Recording
Guidance for Curators and Commercial Archaeological Contractors
East Lothian Council Archaeology Service
16
Other locations which may provide additional information would include:
Local History Centre (i.e. Haddington (East Lothian), Loanhead
(Midlothian)
The National Library of Scotland (for maps, charters, registers, manuscript
collections, books etc.)
National Archives of Scotland (for genealogical records, public records,
census information etc.)
The General Register Office for Scotland (for family history records,
census information etc.)
National Galleries of Scotland
National Trust for Scotland
Statistical Accounts (1791-1799, 1834 and 1845, 1951-1952, 2004-2005)
Estate Records (for prints and paintings, estate maps and other
documents)
"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu
Here is what I say (albeit to do with buildings.. but it makes the point)
Historic Building Recording
Guidance for Curators and Commercial Archaeological Contractors
East Lothian Council Archaeology Service
13
3. Desk-Based Assessments
3.1. Definition and Purpose of Desk-Based Assessments
The IFA define Desk-Based Assessments as:-
ââ¦a programme of assessment of the known or potential archaeological
resource within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or
underwater. It consists of a collation of existing written, graphic,
photographic and electronic information in order to identify the likely
character, extent, quality and worth of the known or potential archaeological
resource in a local, regional, national or international context as appropriateâ
(IFA 1999).
The purpose2 of Desk-Based Assessments is also defined, by the IFA, as:-
ââ¦to gain information about the known or potential archaeological [historical
and architectural] resource within a given area or site (including presence or
absence, character and extent, date, integrity, state of preservation and
relative quality of the potential archaeological resource), in order to make an
assessment of its merit in contextâ¦â
ELCAS would further define the purpose of DBAs as:-
1. To equip the recorder with sufficient background information about
the development site in advance of going into the field (for example,
expected architectural features or chronological changes);
2. To gain information on the archaeological and historical resource;
and,
3. To put the findings of the survey into context
Therefore the generic term Desk-Based Assessment perhaps should be
further divided into three different types of desk-based research:
1) Archival Appraisal (of predominantly secondary sources)
2) Detailed Archive Research (of predominantly secondary sources but
also some primary source material)
3) Comprehensive Archive Research (of primary and secondary
sources).
2 DBAâs are also undertaken as part of consultancy work and in this case, a DBA may be accompanied by
mitigation recommendations
Historic Building Recording
Guidance for Curators and Commercial Archaeological Contractors
East Lothian Council Archaeology Service
14
3.2. Level of DBA required.
ELCAS policy is that a certain degree of DBA will always be required in
advance of any form of field-work. The purpose of desk-based assessments
is to gain information on the archaeological and architectural resource in
order to make both an assessment of its merit/potential in context, but also
leading to an appropriate level of fieldwork and further research, if necessary
and/or appropriate.
Three types of DBA are defined below with each DBA type enhancing the
previous.
3.2.1. Archival Appraisal:
An archive appraisal should always be undertaken before any form of fieldwork.
It includes a familiarisation with the most available and easily
accessible records such as the National Monuments Record Scotland
(including aerial photographs), National Map Library, Historic Environment
Record/Sites and Monuments Record, Statutory List of Buildings of Special
Architectural or Historic Interest and the Inventory of Gardens and Designed
Landscapes. This level of DBA will equip the recorder with sufficient
background information about the development site, in advance of going into
the field.
3.2.2. Detailed Archive Research:
A more detailed archive research will include an initial archive appraisal and
further research to put the findings of the survey work in context. It will
include a more detailed examination of archived records such as the
National Monuments Record Scotland (including aerial photographs),
National Map Library, Historic Environment Record/Sites and Monuments
Record, Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic
Interest and Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in addition to
the Local Studies Records, the National Archives of Scotland, Estate
Plans/ Town Plans (where available) and Statistical Accounts. This level
of DBA will equip the recorder with sufficient evidence about the
development site to provide an account that complements the fieldwork
report. The archaeological contractor should list what sources will be
consulted in both the Written Scheme of Investigation and final Data
Structure Report.
3.2.3. Comprehensive Archive Research:
A comprehensive archive research builds on the aims and objectives of the
detailed archive research by undertaking an in depth examination of
archived records such the National Monuments Record Scotland (including
aerial photographs), National Map Library, Historic Environment Record/
Sites and Monuments Record, Statutory List of Buildings of Special
Architectural or Historic Interest, Inventory of Gardens and Designed
Landscapes, Local Studies Records, the National Archives of Scotland and
Historic Building Recording
Guidance for Curators and Commercial Archaeological Contractors
East Lothian Council Archaeology Service
15
Estate Plans/ Town Plans (where available) as well as Statistical Accounts.
Further work can be carried out by looking at deeds, wills,
manuscripts, charters, MOD collections, mining records, newspaper
archives, local historical society collections, journals and magazines,
paintings and prints, previous relevant site surveys, Burgh and Local
Authority records, Dean of Guild records etc. The advice of an
architectural historian should also be considered to compliment the
desk-based research undertaken and the findings of the historic
building recording survey3. This level of DBA will equip the researcher
with detailed evidence and records about the site, locale and associated
characters to provide a comprehensive account that can form a distinct and
complete part of any final report. The archaeological contractor should list
what sources will be consulted.
âUnderstanding a historic building is the first step towards
decisions about management, repair and alteration. By
identifying architectural, historic and archaeological
interest, the analysis of fabric and structure contributes to
successful conservation, which carefully balances the
significance of the building, the owner's requirements and
appropriate techniques.â
Town House, Haddington ALGAO 1997
It should be noted that during the course of appraising what information is
available for a given site, the researcher may identify additional and relevant
sources of information that to collate would fall out with the remit of the level
of DBA required. ELCAS strongly recommend that rather than discounting
this information from inclusion within the DBA report, a summary of the
resources should be listed, thereby allowing the prospective reader to locate
this additional information and/or the curator to recommend further research
work.
3.3. Sources of information
The following sources of information should be used as a matter of course:
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Buildings of Scotland
Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest
Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes
Historic Environment Record/Sites and Monuments Record
The National Library of Scotland
3 If the advice of an architectural historian is a prerequisite to the successful interpretative aspect of the
HBR report this should be clearly stipulated in the Specification Checklist âDesk Based Assessment
Levelâ field and/or project design.
Historic Building Recording
Guidance for Curators and Commercial Archaeological Contractors
East Lothian Council Archaeology Service
16
Other locations which may provide additional information would include:
Local History Centre (i.e. Haddington (East Lothian), Loanhead
(Midlothian)
The National Library of Scotland (for maps, charters, registers, manuscript
collections, books etc.)
National Archives of Scotland (for genealogical records, public records,
census information etc.)
The General Register Office for Scotland (for family history records,
census information etc.)
National Galleries of Scotland
National Trust for Scotland
Statistical Accounts (1791-1799, 1834 and 1845, 1951-1952, 2004-2005)
Estate Records (for prints and paintings, estate maps and other
documents)
"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu