Hi all,
I am forwarding this from the Architectural Ceramic Building Materials Group list serve.  I expect it will interest many HISTARCH readers.
Cheers,
Tim


Begin forwarded message:

> From: "'Dr Phil Mills' [log in to unmask] [acbmg]" <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: [acbmg] References resources project
> Date: October 24, 2014 10:34:56 AM EDT
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
> 
> 
> Summary. The Archaeological Reference Resources Project will collect information about the Reference Resources used by researchers in the study of artefacts and ecofacts. The project will compile a database, and identify gaps in current provision. The project will engage widely with specialist organisations and individual researchers. The following outline explains the aims of the project, and how the project team propose to engage and collaborate with specialist groups and individual researchers. The project has been commissioned by English Heritage and is being carried out by Rachel Edwards (Arboretum Archaeological Consultancy) and Hal Dalwood (Hal Dalwood Archaeology and Heritage).
> 
> Introduction. The Archaeological Reference Resources Project is inviting the Study Group for Roman Pottery to collorate. The aim of the project is to enable English Heritage and the wider archaeological community to gain a better understanding of what Reference Resources are being used in the archaeology sector, the nature of current issues with Reference Resources, and the nature of any major gaps in coverage.
> 
> The project will create a database of all synthetic archaeological Reference Resources used in the study of artefacts and ecofacts, including physical reference collections, published catalogues and corpora, and online catalogues. The findings of the project will be documented in a report to English Heritage and disseminated to the profession. This project is an outcome of the broader English Heritage Strategy for Developing Research Resources led by Dan Miles of English Heritage: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/research/strategies/research-resources/.
> 
> The project started on Friday 17 October 2014. We will be collecting data and information up to April 2015, and compiling the report during May 2015.
> 
> In the project design stage we contacted a number of representatives of specialist organisations (as well as some individual researchers) all of whom were supportive of the project aims and helped us to refine the project methodology. That consultation was not exhaustive, but we believe it was reasonably representative. Now we want to publicise the project widely across the specialist archaeological sector.
> 
> The Project Design can be downloaded from the project website (www.archaeologicalreferenceresources.uk).        
> 
> Aims. The aims of the project are to:
> 
> 1. Identify what reference resources are currently available/being used by the archaeology sector.
> 
> 2. Create a point-in time database of these reference resources and record basic information on their composition, coverage, date, availability, access, etc.
> 
> 3. Identify and collate information about any barriers to the use of these reference resources. For example if they are out of print.
> 
> 4. Identify and collate information on threats to existing reference resources e.g. curation and maintenance of reference collections.
> 
> 5. Assess the costs and benefits of developing and maintaining an online database of these resources as a tool for use by the sector.
> 
> 6. Highlight major gaps and weaknesses in coverage and currency of reference resources.
> 
> Outputs of the project
> 
> 1.      A project database will be compiled from an extensive literature search. The draft database will be enhanced and expanded through collaboration with specialist groups. The database will include information on the currency of, and any problems with access to, individual Reference Resources, as well as current issues with their future maintenance. The completed database will be a point of reference for English Heritage. Preliminary consultations indicate that members of ALGAO (England) would find such a database useful in assessing project designs and grey literature reports, and that academic archaeologists would find it a useful resource for teaching students.
> 
> 2.      A project report will provide an overview of the use of Reference Resources by the specialist sector and highlight the gaps and weakness in current provision. The identification of gaps will be undertaken in collaboration with specialist groups. The broader issues of curation and maintenance of Reference Resources will also be considered. The project report will also examine the role of Reference Resources in archaeological resource management, including to what extent the use of Reference Resources is a requirement in project briefs. The project report will consider the potential for such requirements to raise standards in fieldwork and post-excavation. This part of the project will be conducted in liaison with ALGAO England. The project report will assess the cost and benefits of maintaining the project database as an online resource.
> 
> Communications. The success of this project will depend upon good communications with specialist societies and organisations, as well as individual researchers. In the project design stage we contacted committee members of a number of specialist organisations, who agreed that their society would co-ordinate consultation and liaison, but we will be attending conferences and meetings and hope to engage with as many researchers as possible.
> 
> Information on the project and updates on progress will available on the project website and blog (www.archaeologicalreferenceresources.uk). You can contact the project team directly via the project email account: [log in to unmask]    
> 
> -- 
> Hal Dalwood and Rachel Edwards
> Archaeological Reference Resources Project
>  
> www.archaeologicalreferenceresources.uk 
> Tel. 01905 26448 
>  
> 
> 
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> Posted by: "Dr Phil Mills" <[log in to unmask]>
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