National Monuments Record

In England, and similarly in other parts of the United Kingdom, the state agency responsible for the historic environment and maintaining a computerized database of recorded archaeological sites and remains. The English record has a number of elements, reflecting the historical development of the system. The National Archaeological Record (NAR) was developed from records initially created and held by the Ordnance Survey but transferred to the NMR in c.1980. These are basically descriptions and plans of archaeological sites with bibliographic links to associated reports and publications and additional material from surveys by the . Tied to the NAR are a series of indexes, including the Excavations Index which lists archaeological interventions and their results. The National Buildings Record was developed from a range of architectural records and surveys and includes details on all the protected buildings (listed buildings) in England. Finally, the National Library of Aerial Photographs is a collection of more than two million images (vertical and oblique) mainly taken since ad 1945, together with plots of areas that have been the subject of detailed study. A National Mapping Programme is undertaking a preliminary analysis of these pictures and the creation of a basic record of the archaeological features visible on them.