The Surrey Archaeological Research Framework (SARF) has been produced by a partnership between Surrey County Council and Surrey Archaeological Society. The SARF Steering Group (Jon Cotton, Peter Harp, Audrey Monk, Richard Savage, Peter Youngs and David Bird) has aimed to make the research framework process work for anyone interested in Surrey's past through a series of seminars, conferences and draft documents.
In common with other parts of England, SARF has been based on the following model (but with modifications):
In Surrey we have effectively completed the resource assessment phase, for example with the books "The archaeology of Surrey to 1540" and "Aspects of archaeology and history in Surrey". We have therefore been able to concentrate on the agenda and strategy sections. Following a conference in October 2005, a series of seminars was held between January and March 2006 to consider the important questions and ways in which they might be answered.
More time was devoted to the period after about AD1500 both because there is a lot of material and because we have devoted less time to it previously. Papers circulated in advance of these seminars and notes arising from them may be accessed from this page. A SARF document was then produced in draft and circulated for comment, and this process was then repeated with a second draft. Completion of a final document was marked by a conference in October 2006.
There was the usual problem of how to tackle the subject: chronologically or by theme? Others have mostly settled for chronology with added themes and this seems best in view of the way archaeological specialisms generally work, at least for the earlier periods.
We have tried to have our cake and eat it too, by tackling the chronological topics using common themes. These themes are then considered together, and a number of overarching themes, such as the influence of geology, the effect of London and links to neighbouring areas, are also to be discussed.
A final section includes discussion of how the Framework can be implemented, the methods to be used and the resources, training, etc, required.
The document has not been published in a formal printed mode because it is recognised that it is important to see the Research Framework as a continuing process. The web is ideal as a means of keeping an up-to-date version readily accessible and it is intended that SARF will be available both through Surrey County Council and the Surrey Archaeological Society. We aim to establish a mechanism whereby there will be regular updating so that important additions to the resource assessment and new questions arising from new discoveries or new theories can be noted.
David Bird
Comments regarding the Framework should be directed to:
Dr Joe Flatman
Heritage Conservation Team Manager
Surrey History Centre
130 Goldsworth Road
Woking
Surrey GU21 6ND
Email: joe.flatman@surreycc.gov.uk
Tel 01483 518781 or Mobile 07990 625820
Select the links below to download the papers and summary notes relating to the seminars set up as part of the process of producing a Research Framework for Surrey.
It was the aim of these seminars to provide a forum for discussion of the agenda and strategy parts of SARF, particularly the first (see Surrey Archaeological Society Bulletin 389). That is: what do we need to know, and how might we find out.
The papers incorporate ideas put forward at the conference on 1 October 2005 and in the publication "Aspects of archaeology and history in Surrey". They also incorporate contributions from a number of specialists although not as many as I would have liked, so that some periods are very under-represented. Each seminar began with a presentation by an invited speaker whose brief is to provoke reaction. We are keen to generate ideas about the key areas where we need to know more, and the ways in which we might be able to gain that knowledge. Please keep in mind that 'we' means not only the SARF Steering Group but also all archaeologists (and local historians) with an interest in Surrey's past ('Surrey' for these purposes being roughly the area of both the historic and the modern counties).
| Filename | Description |
|---|---|
| SARF Final document | |
| SARF seminar notes | Document containing notes from all seven SARF seminars |
| SARF seminar papers | Document containing papers from all seven SARF seminars |
