2.7 Research Recommendations

Access to source material is essential for undertaking research. The following is a series of specific recommendations for improving access.

Many research questions from the original National ScARF and other regional research frameworks are also relevant and applicable in the Highlands. These will soon be all be searchable and available all together through our new digital platform facility.

HARF 2.1: Support should be made to enable all museums, heritage centres and archives to create digital catalogues and have them available online. 

More information on this strategy
More information:
Information about material culture, including museum catalogues on-line, and up-to-date Treasure Trove allocation and disclaimed data needs to be up to date and accessible.
Status:
Active
Authority to change status:
Date accepted:
01/09/2021
Date of next review:
01/09/2024
Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework

HARF 2.2: There needs to be a clearer process to record location of both the results of excavations and of the finds from projects.

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More information:
From initial discovery, results of any further specialist analysis, to publication in grey literature or publication, and finally to allocation of finds and deposit of the archive.  
Status:
Active
Authority to change status:
Date accepted:
01/09/2021
Date of next review:
01/09/2024
Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework

HARF 2.3: A list of oral history resources should be compiled, with good keyword tagging. Copies should be lodged with the Highland Archives to ensure to future proofing of technologies. 

More information on this strategy
More information:
Status:
Active
Authority to change status:
Date accepted:
01/09/2021
Date of next review:
01/09/2024
Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework

HARF 2.4: Backlogs to the HER should be addressed, and grey literature should continue to be added, to provide online access to this important information.  links to both HER and Canmore data. Canmore should create links from its records to Highland HER sooner rather than later.  

More information on this strategy
More information:
Status:
Active
Authority to change status:
Date accepted:
01/09/2021
Date of next review:
01/09/2024
Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework

HARF 2.5: More PhD theses should be available on-line, and a portal set up to link to them via keywords. 

More information on this strategy
More information:
Status:
Active
Authority to change status:
Date accepted:
01/09/2021
Date of next review:
01/09/2024
Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework

HARF 2.6: There is a need to examine metal detecting assemblages to assess what they tell us about areas, and how does this differ from perspectives from other sources. 

More information on this strategy
More information:
Status:
Active
Authority to change status:
Date accepted:
01/09/2021
Date of next review:
01/09/2024
Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework

HARF 2.8: Investigate how Archaeology can contribute to initiatives to address the decline of the Gaelic language. 

More information on this strategy
More information:
Status:
Active
Authority to change status:
Date accepted:
01/09/2021
Date of next review:
01/09/2024
Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework

HARF 2.9: Pastmap should also continue to be updated regularly to provide links to both HER and Canmore data. Canmore should create links from its records to Highland HER.

More information on this strategy
More information:
Status:
Active
Authority to change status:
Date accepted:
01/09/2021
Date of next review:
01/09/2024
Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework

HARF 2.10: More dendrochronological work on Scottish timber is needed, including isotope analysis. 

More information on this strategy
More information:
Sampling should be the norm, so that more material is not lost. 
Status:
Active
Authority to change status:
Date accepted:
01/09/2021
Date of next review:
01/09/2024
Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework

HARF 2.11: More Inductively Coupled Plasma -Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) analysis of pottery is needed to identify production sites. 

More information on this strategy
More information:
Status:
Active
Authority to change status:
Date accepted:
01/09/2021
Date of next review:
01/09/2024
Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework

HARF 2.12: A database of known environmental sampling should be created, to allow information to be integrated and research questions to be targeted with the appropriate techniques. 

More information on this strategy
More information:
Status:
Active
Authority to change status:
Date accepted:
01/09/2021
Date of next review:
01/09/2024
Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework

HARF 2.13: Information about all Treasure Trove allocations in the past, including disclaimed data, should be readily available and updated.

More information on this strategy
More information:
Status:
Active
Authority to change status:
Date accepted:
01/09/2021
Date of next review:
01/09/2024
Found in the following Frameworks:
The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework

Are there research questions that you think are missing?

Why not add your comment below which will be flagged to ScARF (or get in touch with ScARF directly) and new questions will be considered for addition at the next revision.


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