Editing Sites and monuments record

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
Each [[county]] or [[unitary authority]] in the [[United Kingdom]] maintains a '''sites and monuments record''' or SMR, consisting of  a list of known [[archaeology|archaeological]] sites. Many SMRs are now developing into much broader '''historic environment records''' (HERs), including information on historic buildings and designed landscapes.  Each record lists the location, type and period of site, along with a brief description and information on the location of more detailed sources of information such as site reports. This information is most commonly used to help inform decisions on the likelihood of new development affecting archaeological deposits. Government guidance ([[PPG 16]] and SPP<ref name="SPP">{{cite web|title=A statement of the Scottish Government's policy on nationally important land use planning matters|url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/02/03132605/0|accessdate=2 July 2010}}</ref> in Scotland) requires local authorities to consider archaeology a [[material consideration]] in determining planning applications and the SMR aids this consideration.

While mentioned in guidance, there is no statutory requirement for local authorities to fund an SMR (although this was a provision in the [[England and Wales Heritage Protection Bill]]<ref>[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100512160314/http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/5075.aspx National Archives record for the Heritage Protection Bill]</ref><ref>[http://www.britarch.ac.uk/news/090701-heritageprotection Bill dropped]</ref>) and there is great variety in implementation across the UK. Some SMRs are simple card indexes, others are [[command line]] [[Unix]] [[databases]] and others are more modern and [[Geographic information system|GIS]]-based. They provide an enormously useful resource but are not always fully exploited or appreciated by the public. Efforts to place SMRs on-line have met with success in certain parts of Britain, although some archaeologists have voiced concern that making vulnerable sites better known to the public endangers them further, especially through illicit [[metal detector|metal-detecting]].  The contrary argument is that informing the public of historic sites near them will in fact increase protection, as local people will take pride in their [[cultural heritage]] and seek to protect it.  In 2007, an updated version of best practice guidance for HERs "Informing the Future of the Past: Guidelines for Historic Environment Records"<ref name="IFP">{{cite web|last1=Gilman|first1=Paul|last2=Newman|first2=Martin|title=Informing the Future of the Past: Guidelines for Historic Environment Records (Second Edition)|url=http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/ifp/|publisher=English Heritage, Historic Scotland, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW), the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers UK (ALGAO UK) and the Archaeology Data Service (ADS).|accessdate=24 January 2013}}</ref> has been made available on-line.

Members of the public can usually consult their local SMR, or request a search be undertaken on their behalf, and they are commonly used by local [[historian]]s, archaeological organisations and academics.  An increasing number of SMRs and HERs are becoming available to search on-line, in England particularly via the [[Heritage Gateway]].<ref name="HG">{{cite web|title=Heritage Gateway|url=http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/CHR/|accessdate=2 July 2010}}</ref>  In Scotland, the [[PASTMAP]] website<ref name="PASTMAP">{{cite web|title=PASTMAP|url=http://jura.rcahms.gov.uk/PASTMAP/start.jsp|accessdate=2 July 2010}}</ref> presents comprehensive national datasets on [[monument]]s, buildings, gardens and designed landscapes, [[shipwreck|wrecks]], and an increasing number of local records.

==See also==
*[[Heritage asset]]
*[[Scheduled monument]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/ Heritage Gateway]
*[http://www.twsitelines.info/ SiteLines - Tyne and Wear's Historic Environment Records online directory]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sites And Monuments Record}}
[[Category:Archaeology of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Heritage registers in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Historic preservation]]


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