The principles behind historic characterisation are simple. They concern mapping the historic dimension of today’s rural and urban landscapes. In summary:

• The present day landscape is the object of study.
• The whole landscape is characterised, the most important characteristic being its time depth.
• An archaeologists approach is used to identify change in the landscape, and to identify the processes at work.
• Landscape is and has always been dynamic; therefore management of change, not conservation, is the aim.
• The aim is to capture distinctiveness at a local level and though this starts from an expert view, broader perceptions should be eventually integrated.
• All aspects of the landscape, no matter how modern, are treated as part of landscape character, not just 'special' areas