Abstract

Hosted by Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) is the primary place of deposit for archaeological archives in Scotland. Built up over several decades, the archives hold over 1.6m items, both analogue and digital, linked to a site inventory of over 320,000 site records relating to the archaeological and architectural history of Scotland. Initially the survey archive of the former Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, the collections now include project archives from professional archaeological companies, academic researchers and, increasingly, community projects. A range of policy and professional drivers, as well as best practice, encourage archival deposition. The digital component of the archive has grown considerably over the last decade. In response, the NRHE has invested in preservation software to manage these holdings and has submitted an application for CoreTrustSeal. The NRHE is available online through the Canmore database and web-map applications. The online presence is assessed against the FAIR Data principles.

Highlights

  • Many organisations from community groups to professional archaeological companies, university departments and public bodies are active in archaeological fieldwork and research in Scotland

  • The strategy sets out a collaborative approach across stakeholders 'to ensure that the cultural, social, environmental and economic value of Scotland's heritage makes a strong contribution to the wellbeing of the nation and its people' (Scottish Government 2014a, 9)

  • For work undertaken through Scheduled Monument Consent on a Protected Site or funded through their archaeological commissions or grants, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) requires that the archive is deposited in an appropriate archive

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Summary

Summary

Hosted by Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) is the primary place of deposit for archaeological archives in Scotland. Built up over several decades, the archives hold over 1.6m items, both analogue and digital, linked to a site inventory of over 320,000 site records relating to the archaeological and architectural history of Scotland. The survey archive of the former Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, the collections include project archives from professional archaeological companies, academic researchers and, increasingly, community projects. A range of policy and professional drivers, as well as best practice, encourage archival deposition. The NRHE has invested in preservation software to manage these holdings and has submitted an application for CoreTrustSeal. The NRHE is available online through the Canmore database and web-map applications. The online presence is assessed against the FAIR Data principles

Introduction
Purpose and Value of the Archive
Legislative Framework and Policy Guidance for Archaeological Archives
Policy
Requirements
Archaeological licences
Professional guidance
Archives
The National Record of the Historic Environment
The digital repository
Other repositories
Artefacts and museums
Compliance
How FAIR is the NRHE?
Findability
Accessible
Interoperable
Reusable
Findings
To the Future

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