A Historic Environment Record (HER) is a public archive and database that holds a compilation of archaeological monuments, events and sources. A
The National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) is held and managed by Historic Environment Scotland, this respository was originally amassed by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS). Trove, formerly Canmore, is the online catalogue of the NRHE.
All local authorities in South West Scotland have access to an Archaeology Service, staffed by archaeologists. For Dumfries & Galloway Council the service is located within the council while the three Ayrshire authorities mutually subscribe to the West of Scotland Archaeology Service (WoSAS), who are hosted by Glasgow City Council.
Such services have two core aspects: the maintenance of their HER and the provision of guidance and advice. Each HER originated from a base of the RCAHMS data. From this base the level of enhancement, refinement and broadening of remit has depended on locally-set priorities and resourcing.
The WoSAS HER which covers the three Ayrshire authorities is also web-mounted by South Ayrshire Council in a searchable form.
Dumfries & Galloway Council do not have an online HER.
The Trove (Canmore) online catalogue of the NRHE is also available through PastMap, which also provides access to designation information from HES as well as datasets from both archaeology services which cover all four local authorities in our region.