Informing the Future of the Past: Guidelines for HERs

 

These Guidelines have been developed to assist those who manage and work in Historic Environment Records (HERs). This is a revision of the first edition re-titled from the original Guidelines for SMRs to reflect the broadening of the remit of these records.

 

The objectives of this publication are:

 

• to provide an introduction to HERs and the services that they provide;

 

• to set out agreed guidelines for working practices in HERs in a collaborative partnership between 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 (ALGAO UK) and the Archaeology Data Service (ADS);

 

• to support the delivery of training, information and advice on the management of HERs;

 

• to provide a guide to all aspects of HER management, working practices, standards, systems and services.

 

Informing the Future of the Past aims to provide an accessible introduction to managing, creating and using HERs. It contains procedural guidelines for the management of HERs illustrated with case studies covering diverse areas from recording practices to outreach projects. These guidelines are based on nationally agreed standards and the experience of working HER Managers.