Each time period is allocated its own set of research questions. Alongside this are a set of general research questions for the archaeology and historic environment of the North West which are not period-specific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is need for full assessment of the current resource beyond the scope of the Research Framework process. This work should cover antiquarian work, museum archives, HERs, and the archives of university departments and archaeological units. Too much information remains unpublished or presented in grey literature only with no usable synthesis, and a framework is needed to address this regionally or nationally. Review effectiveness of OASIS and recent Rural Research project and identify gaps in data and methodologies to capture this.\u00a0<\/p>
Can we use Roman Rural Research project as a model?<\/p>
Focus on synthesis of articles in period journals, for instance work at The problem with funding of backlog projects (especially the last 10-15 years) is that the original written scheme (if there was one) may not now be fit for purpose. If development funded (especially ecclesiastical and Diocesan), then clearly client may be very unwilling to fund appropriate reporting. Site archives\/information collections need to come out into the open and not moulder in sheds and garages belonging to original excavator. Sites need to be written up\/published. No new funding for excavation should be available unless previous work is published. Need continued support of archaeology websites, HERs and Museums, with links between them (common data schema and access within individual archives). Encourage brief publication in period journals, as well as OASIS and HERs. Ensure archives are accessioned to county record offices as soon as possible. Need to include relevant archives held outside the NW region. How do we collect material from local groups with a view to publishing as many are no academic minded? Middlewich is synthesised in JCAS.<\/p> <\/span>
Prioritise significant sites for publication. The study and publication of archival material from Carlisle especially, but also other towns like Manchester, Lancaster and Kendal is required. An audit and prioritised programme for post excavation of key sites is required to deal with a backlog of unpublished excavations. Prioritise the absolute dating of key assemblages, such as the animal bone from Castle Street, Carlisle. Actively approach major period journals with regional synthesis papers. Encourage\/facilitate open access publication. But need to look at how\/where published (and supporting data) eg. online\/print u2013 split\/book\/monograph\/transactions etc. The publication and dissemination of unpublished work from military and fort sites should be treated as a priority. Work on the Chester post excavation programme requires funding to progress with the analysis that is underway, in order to understand the structural history of the Roman fortress at Chester. Other examples include Richmond’s excavation at Lancaster, plus Carlisle. Realistically, this will need funding support nationally, but do not fund the failed models of the past. Need to look at how other regional backlog sites are published eg. Norton\/Bewsey.<\/p> <\/span>
More information than has been published may be available in archives of past excavations, in particular material from sites on the west Cumbrian coast, which needs to be brought into the public domain. Access to Archives needs to be addressed. Use of new and developing techniques, such as high-quality digital cameras and scanners, should be employed, to enable cost-effective and high quality recording of artefacts and greater ease of dissemination.\u00a0 Subject of MA at UCLAN? How do we make academic research sources available\/known to community groups. How do we share site knowledge ahead of research? Specify public access protocols in HER audits, irrespective of LA support. OASIS should be mandatory for all, with training provided. As a minimum, all Romano-British sites excavated should have an entry in Britannia and this requirement should be stated within curators’ briefs.\u00a0 Need to confirm with Editors that room can be made for this increase in reporting. Now that summaries can be produced online then a case can be made for concentrating on county journal summaries. Not all counties have appropriate journals.<\/p> <\/span>
Provide assemblages they can use to further their careers. Need forums to bring disparate elements of archaeological community together. Potential for collaboration scoping activity between Regional Heritage Centre and Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society (CWAAS) u2013 using existing informal networks to gather contact details in first instance. Can HERs be promoted more widely in the academic?<\/p>
Links to GS8<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p> <\/span>
Co-operation with diocese and faculties needed for access to archives. Diocese to allow access to watching brief and other reports to help understand sites into the dissolution period. (and links to 4.30 Early Med)<\/p>
Link with GS8<\/p> <\/span>
Search of existing building recording and excavation archives to produce site specific reports and interpretative compilation studies. This is particularly relevant for the Late Medieval period.<\/p> <\/span>
As the majority of lithic scatters are derived from coastal assemblages and erosion scars, and often contain material of mixed date, the identification and excavation of stratigraphically secure and scientifically datable material in association with lithic assemblages is imperative. Publish with the titles\/abstracts of work (research) using development control based material eg. Quaker Cemetery, North Shields, Proctor 2016. Continue publication and range of where work done\/on-going etc. Database across periods versus themes of such existing lists.<\/p>
Links to GS4<\/p> <\/span>
A reassessment of old archives of Romano-British but also potentially Iron Age sites is required. In particular finds of metalwork need to be located and revisited for modern analysis.\u00a0 Strategy: re-assess old archives and plotting metal detector finds Iron Age metalwork remains rare at a regional scale, and iron objects are believed to be uncommon, but there is no up-to-date corpus of Iron Age artefacts for the region. Existing archives require revisiting with a view to evaluating the known extent of Iron Age material culture. The publication of Meols and the finds on the PAS database will help considerably towards this study. <\/p> <\/span>