Last Oasis Packing Soil Excavator: A Guide to Reporting and Archiving Requirements

The excavation of a scheduled monument requires meticulous planning, execution, and documentation. One crucial step in this process is the creation of a Data Structure Report (DSR), which provides a comprehensive overview of the findings and serves as a record of the intervention. This report is essential for Historic Environment Scotland to make informed decisions about further analysis, archiving, and finds disposal.

The purpose of a DSR is to summarize and structure the information gathered during excavation in a clear and concise manner. It should highlight the most significant discoveries and provide lists of data produced and objects recovered. The emphasis lies in describing the findings rather than publishing them, as this report will be archived for future reference.

In Scotland, a DSR is typically the first formal written product after any form of archaeological excavation, including test pits, evaluations, or full-scale excavations. This document replaces the earlier Project Design, Implementation and Archiving document, Historic Scotland Archaeological Procedures Paper 2, 1996.

The scope of these requirements is limited to archaeological works that require scheduled monument consent. To ensure compliance with reporting and archiving regulations, it is essential for excavation teams to create a DSR as quickly as possible after the fieldwork ends.

The PERD (Post-Excavation Research Design) will outline proposals for further analysis and reporting, which may include artefact and ecofact processing, stratigraphic analysis, production of a Post-Excavation Assessment and Updated Project Design, detailed analysis, report writing, publication, archiving, and declaration of the assemblage to the Treasure Trove Unit. The Data Structure Report will inform the requirement for further work if the results are more significant or necessitate additional analysis.

In some cases, where the findings are limited, further post-excavation analysis may not be necessary. However, if more detailed analysis is required, it can also be beneficial for specialists working on the project, such as those focused on artefacts or ecofacts.

The DSR should highlight significant information from a site in a form that will aid Historic Environment Scotland in making decisions regarding requirements for further analysis. By providing a clear and comprehensive summary of the excavation findings, the Data Structure Report supports decision-making about post-excavation analysis, archiving, and finds disposal.

In conclusion, creating a Data Structure Report is an essential part of the archaeological excavation process, particularly when working on scheduled monuments in Scotland. This document serves as a record of the intervention and provides a comprehensive overview of the findings, which can inform further analysis and decision-making about the site's future. By following these guidelines, excavation teams can ensure compliance with reporting and archiving regulations and contribute to a better understanding of Scotland's rich cultural heritage.

Last oasis packing soil excavator