22nd December 2005, 03:52 PM
To completely clarify what I mean by recording, let's use the hypothetical example of a metal-detectorist expedition to a single field on the outskirts of Ambridge.
For me as an archaeologist an acceptable minimum record of this expedition which should be in the public domain (lets say the Borsetshire HER) would contain the following...
1. A location map showing the location of the field in its setting (say an A4-sized extract of the OS 1:10000 map) with the field clearly marked and with National Grid references shown. Perhaps an obvious local building - the church, or the 'Bull' public house - should also be shown to orient the viewer.
2. An accurate survey of the field itself, at 1:50 or 1:100 showing not only all the field boundaries but also OS grid, spot heights derived from the nearest OS BM and (if the field is particularly undulating) either contours or hachures showing the topography (eg. any ditches or earthwork features). On this map should be plotted the locations of all finds or detected anomolies.
3. A catalogue, cross referenced to the map (ie. each find spot is numbered on the map corresponding to an equivalent number in the catalogue), listing all of the artefacts recovered, identifying them where possible, preferably with photographs and with information about where these artefacts are now kept. This catalogue and the map should include negative evidence (eg. a ferrous signal was detected at point number 38 but on excavation was found to be part of an old Land Rover).
The maps and the catalogue should be given to the SMR/HER.
The above is a minimum - actually in an ideal world I would suggest that the maps and catalogue should be brought together in a short report which includes information such as...
1. Background history of the site
2. Methodology used (ie. type of detector employed, number of people doing it, the way the grid was set up etc.)
3. Field conditions (ie. weather, ploughed ground etc.) which may have affected the results.
Now to answer your question... if the PAS and UKDFD enable this level of recording then yes, they are acceptable. If they don't then they are not. Simple as that.
For me as an archaeologist an acceptable minimum record of this expedition which should be in the public domain (lets say the Borsetshire HER) would contain the following...
1. A location map showing the location of the field in its setting (say an A4-sized extract of the OS 1:10000 map) with the field clearly marked and with National Grid references shown. Perhaps an obvious local building - the church, or the 'Bull' public house - should also be shown to orient the viewer.
2. An accurate survey of the field itself, at 1:50 or 1:100 showing not only all the field boundaries but also OS grid, spot heights derived from the nearest OS BM and (if the field is particularly undulating) either contours or hachures showing the topography (eg. any ditches or earthwork features). On this map should be plotted the locations of all finds or detected anomolies.
3. A catalogue, cross referenced to the map (ie. each find spot is numbered on the map corresponding to an equivalent number in the catalogue), listing all of the artefacts recovered, identifying them where possible, preferably with photographs and with information about where these artefacts are now kept. This catalogue and the map should include negative evidence (eg. a ferrous signal was detected at point number 38 but on excavation was found to be part of an old Land Rover).
The maps and the catalogue should be given to the SMR/HER.
The above is a minimum - actually in an ideal world I would suggest that the maps and catalogue should be brought together in a short report which includes information such as...
1. Background history of the site
2. Methodology used (ie. type of detector employed, number of people doing it, the way the grid was set up etc.)
3. Field conditions (ie. weather, ploughed ground etc.) which may have affected the results.
Now to answer your question... if the PAS and UKDFD enable this level of recording then yes, they are acceptable. If they don't then they are not. Simple as that.