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Talk to the PAS Volunteer Recording Conference, 8 Jan 2011, slideshare version

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The document discusses guidelines for recording finds and objects in a database. It provides examples of the types of information to include such as image descriptions, findspots, dates, materials, and measurements. It also discusses writing clear and unambiguous descriptions, backing claims with evidence, and including extra details. The document offers tips on quoting parallels and guidance on what to record after 1700 AD, focusing on objects that tell a story or help identify other finds.

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Why do we record objects? KENT-405833
What do we record? image description findspot and how found date of object identifier material dimensions
Map of the distribution of early Anglo-Saxon wrist-clasps (from Lucy 2000) SF7853 Chippenham, Cambridgeshire
Finds from a collection of early Anglo-Saxon objects
Finds picked up after de-stoning in advance of carrot planting in a single field at Oxborough, Norfolk
image description findspot and how found date of object identifier material dimensions date of recording
FAHG-7B3D73 KENT-FED666
Primary material Surface treatment Broad period The advanced search screen
油
油
油
油
DOR-C080A4
Writing descriptions some principles Back up your statements with evidence Remember the needs of the searcher strap end ) strap-end ) all need separate searches strapend ) globular ) try to use all terms that might spherical ) be searched on
Scan dan avian should be spelled Scan din avian (there are several on the database for me to correct)
Romanists have strap-ends (Hawkes and Dunning 1962) Medievalists have belt-chapes (Ward-Perkins 1940)
Anglo-Saxon loops and tongues; Marzinzik 2003, 308 Medieval frames and pins; Egan and Pritchard 1991, 51
油
Too many boarders and not enough borders
Round pin heads? Spherical YORYM-0B2194 Flat and circular WMID-C6EC38
LIN-AC7FF0 There are four ring-and-dot motifs on each side or is there one on each side, and four on the front and back? Edges can also be a problem.
Writing descriptions more principles Back up your statements with evidence Remember the needs of the searcher Avoid ambiguous words and phrases Be logical and systematic as you work through the objects description
Medieval animal-head mount with each image oriented correctly Lead die with Roman numerals the images are not oriented correctly
There are separate fields for date, materials, measurements and so on why do these need to be repeated in the description field? Extra information for measurements (e.g. 8 mm wide in the centre, tapering to 6 mm wide at either end) Extra information for materials (e.g. copper-alloy buckle plate with two iron rivets). Extra information for dates (e.g. this object type is most common in the 14th century, but the use of niello inlaid in a criss-cross pattern suggests a late 15th- if not early 16th-century date for this particular example.) Extra information for completeness is the break fresh (showing possible recent agricultural damage) or worn (possibly broken in antiquity or showing long-term agricultural damage) Extra information for parallels (e.g. identical to Hattatt 1431, or similar to, but smaller than, Hattatt 239. S o dont assume that because another field is filled in, that information doesnt need to go into the description field.
Quoting parallels in order of usefulness 1. Excavated parallels from dated archaeological contexts give solid evidence for date (e.g. Museum of London finds books) 2. Unstratified archaeological finds or the PAS database do not have dates, but have good findspots and often evidence for other parallels which eventually lead you back to a date 3. Books with lots of pictures, identifications and dates, but no evidence backing this up are the worst.
Geoff Egan we miss him very much
The 1700 divide: what to record after 1700 AD? Treasure Act ends 300 years ago, so currently at 1711 The basic principle is: will searchers of the database find it a useful record? is it interesting? are there others on the database? could it be confused with anything else? If uncertain, make a record
In practice things you wont record official coins buckles buttons harness mounts furniture fittings
In practice things you will record Objects that tell a story, e.g.: unusual tokens and paranumismatica seals, especially Russian flax seals, kosher seals, cloth seals Kosher seal, SF-1A2781 Estonian flax seal, SWYOR-26EA54 Birmingham workhouse button, LEIC-2E59C6 Mersey ferry ticket found in Ormskirk, LANCUM-07DD85
In practice things you will record Complete objects that help us understand or identify incomplete and difficult objects These things used to be a puzzle were they Roman spoon handles?
No, they were 18 th - or 19 th -century what? Candlestick elements, drawer handles, curtain tie-back handles have all been suggested. NCL-775DF4 SOM-6B52C5 NMS-FA74E3
These middle Anglo-Saxon pin heads didnt look quite right. CORN-9D3541 BH-F6E4D2 BH-7A8FD3
SUSS-59F935 because they were actually modern coat-hooks!
SUSS-59F935
On the PAS website, click Contacts at the top and scroll down. then click on this
click here to read it

More Related Content

Talk to the PAS Volunteer Recording Conference, 8 Jan 2011, slideshare version

  • 1. Why do we record objects? KENT-405833
  • 2. What do we record? image description findspot and how found date of object identifier material dimensions
  • 3. Map of the distribution of early Anglo-Saxon wrist-clasps (from Lucy 2000) SF7853 Chippenham, Cambridgeshire
  • 4. Finds from a collection of early Anglo-Saxon objects
  • 5. Finds picked up after de-stoning in advance of carrot planting in a single field at Oxborough, Norfolk
  • 6. image description findspot and how found date of object identifier material dimensions date of recording
  • 8. Primary material Surface treatment Broad period The advanced search screen
  • 9. 油
  • 10. 油
  • 11. 油
  • 12. 油
  • 14. Writing descriptions some principles Back up your statements with evidence Remember the needs of the searcher strap end ) strap-end ) all need separate searches strapend ) globular ) try to use all terms that might spherical ) be searched on
  • 15. Scan dan avian should be spelled Scan din avian (there are several on the database for me to correct)
  • 16. Romanists have strap-ends (Hawkes and Dunning 1962) Medievalists have belt-chapes (Ward-Perkins 1940)
  • 17. Anglo-Saxon loops and tongues; Marzinzik 2003, 308 Medieval frames and pins; Egan and Pritchard 1991, 51
  • 18. 油
  • 19. Too many boarders and not enough borders
  • 20. Round pin heads? Spherical YORYM-0B2194 Flat and circular WMID-C6EC38
  • 21. LIN-AC7FF0 There are four ring-and-dot motifs on each side or is there one on each side, and four on the front and back? Edges can also be a problem.
  • 22. Writing descriptions more principles Back up your statements with evidence Remember the needs of the searcher Avoid ambiguous words and phrases Be logical and systematic as you work through the objects description
  • 23. Medieval animal-head mount with each image oriented correctly Lead die with Roman numerals the images are not oriented correctly
  • 24. There are separate fields for date, materials, measurements and so on why do these need to be repeated in the description field? Extra information for measurements (e.g. 8 mm wide in the centre, tapering to 6 mm wide at either end) Extra information for materials (e.g. copper-alloy buckle plate with two iron rivets). Extra information for dates (e.g. this object type is most common in the 14th century, but the use of niello inlaid in a criss-cross pattern suggests a late 15th- if not early 16th-century date for this particular example.) Extra information for completeness is the break fresh (showing possible recent agricultural damage) or worn (possibly broken in antiquity or showing long-term agricultural damage) Extra information for parallels (e.g. identical to Hattatt 1431, or similar to, but smaller than, Hattatt 239. S o dont assume that because another field is filled in, that information doesnt need to go into the description field.
  • 25. Quoting parallels in order of usefulness 1. Excavated parallels from dated archaeological contexts give solid evidence for date (e.g. Museum of London finds books) 2. Unstratified archaeological finds or the PAS database do not have dates, but have good findspots and often evidence for other parallels which eventually lead you back to a date 3. Books with lots of pictures, identifications and dates, but no evidence backing this up are the worst.
  • 26. Geoff Egan we miss him very much
  • 27. The 1700 divide: what to record after 1700 AD? Treasure Act ends 300 years ago, so currently at 1711 The basic principle is: will searchers of the database find it a useful record? is it interesting? are there others on the database? could it be confused with anything else? If uncertain, make a record
  • 28. In practice things you wont record official coins buckles buttons harness mounts furniture fittings
  • 29. In practice things you will record Objects that tell a story, e.g.: unusual tokens and paranumismatica seals, especially Russian flax seals, kosher seals, cloth seals Kosher seal, SF-1A2781 Estonian flax seal, SWYOR-26EA54 Birmingham workhouse button, LEIC-2E59C6 Mersey ferry ticket found in Ormskirk, LANCUM-07DD85
  • 30. In practice things you will record Complete objects that help us understand or identify incomplete and difficult objects These things used to be a puzzle were they Roman spoon handles?
  • 31. No, they were 18 th - or 19 th -century what? Candlestick elements, drawer handles, curtain tie-back handles have all been suggested. NCL-775DF4 SOM-6B52C5 NMS-FA74E3
  • 32. These middle Anglo-Saxon pin heads didnt look quite right. CORN-9D3541 BH-F6E4D2 BH-7A8FD3
  • 33. SUSS-59F935 because they were actually modern coat-hooks!
  • 35. On the PAS website, click Contacts at the top and scroll down. then click on this
  • 36. click here to read it