ADS Newsletter Issue 15

Grey literature reports online in Worcestershire

Part of the reasoning behind the OASIS project is to improve the flow of information between fieldworkers, heritage managers and academics. In this article, Neil Lockett and Victoria Bryant of Worcestershire County Council describe how this fits into their own plans for an integrated research and management tool.

Recent work by Worcestershire 'HER' (Historic Environment Record) team has focussed on the development of a model for incorporation, processing and dissemination of data to create a management, research and education resource served electronically.

Our new HER is based on a modular concept with the main core enhanced by the creation of additional specialist databases such as an online fabric and form series or our online tithe maps. This modular approach enables resources to be developed which specifically match criteria imposed by the datasets rather than forcing data into one large database. This system is designed to be platform independent and interoperable.

The core GIS involves the creation of four interrelated groups of themes: data; interpretation; research frameworks and management. Of these, data themes and interpretative themes, are worth discussing in more detail here.

Underpinning the HER systems are a number of data themes. These themes include traditional archaeological data-sets converted from existing single layered data into a multi-layered GIS and non-heritage data-sets such as Solid and Drift geology, soils and natural environment data-sets. The integration of these data-sets will enable us to understand and manage the Historic Environment in a more sophisticated way.

Linking extant data to additional internal resources will further enhance the record. An example of this is the conversion of commercially funded archaeological reports to online digital reports (for a pilot of this see the ADS Library link below). Future developments include utilising information from national projects, such as the OASIS project which will facilitate easier integration of developer-funded archaeological work into the HER.

The interactive use of a wide range of data sources will help us to produce spatial models of the landscape through time - interpretative themes. These can be developed and changed in response to fieldwork and synthesis. The first of these interpretative themes (for the Palaeolithic) has been completed in response to the Shotten Project, a research project based at Birmingham University. This provides a model for the development of other interpretative themes in the future and the key to its success is the collaboration of experts in different sectors. The development of interpetative themes will result in a major improvement in resources for management, research and teaching.

Conclusion
Our intention is to create an information cycle where a dynamic and cyclic process of data collection, interpretation, research and management will provide those involved in management, fieldwork, research and education with easy access to baseline and synthesised data. The grey literature reports we have now lodged with the ADS show one of the many directions that such access will develop in the future.

Victoria Bryant and Neil Lockett
vbryant@worcestershire.gov.uk

For more on the Worcestershire HER see: www.worcestershire.gov.uk/archaeology/her-news

For the online pottery fabric and form series see: www.worcestershireceramics.org

For more on the Worcestershire Tithe Maps see: www.worcestershiremaps.org.uk

For more on the Shotten Project see: www.archant.bham.ac.uk/shottonproject/network.htm

For more on the Unpublished Excavation Reports in the ADS Library see: http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/library/greylit/

Grey literature reports online in Worcestershire

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