FISHThe FISH Terminologies are a comprehensive suite of over 20 thesauri and controlled vocabularies that serve as the standard indexing tools for heritage data in the British Isles. Maintained by the Forum on Information Standards in Heritage (FISH), these terminologies provide the controlled language used by Historic Environment Records, national heritage bodies, museums, and archaeological organizations across the United Kingdom.
Background
The Forum on Information Standards in Heritage (FISH) has coordinated the development and maintenance of heritage terminologies since the late 1990s, building on earlier work by organizations such as the Museum Documentation Association (MDA) and English Heritage (now Historic England). The terminologies have grown organically over the decades, with individual thesauri created to meet specific recording needs — from archaeological objects and monument types to maritime craft and climate hazards. FISH acts as the coordinating body, working through its Terminology Working Group with support from Historic England, the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers (ALGAO), and other heritage organizations.
Purpose & Scope
The FISH Terminologies provide controlled vocabulary for recording and retrieving heritage information across a wide range of domains. They are used to index sites, monuments, buildings, structures, archaeological finds, events, and related heritage data. The suite covers:
- Archaeological Objects Thesaurus — terms for recording archaeological finds
- Monument Types Thesaurus — terms for sites, monuments, buildings, and structures
- Building Materials Thesaurus — construction materials of heritage assets
- Archaeological Sciences Thesaurus — techniques and materials in archaeological sciences
- Event Thesaurus — archaeological investigative and survey activities
- Components Thesaurus — structural elements and divisions of buildings
- Maritime Craft Thesaurus — vessel types surviving as wrecks
- Climate Hazards Thesaurus — climate change hazards for heritage
- Historic Characterization Thesaurus — landscape and seascape characterization
- Heritage Crime Thesaurus — crimes and incidents against heritage assets
Additional thesauri cover evidence types, farmsteads, World War I and II heritage, historic aircraft, maritime fixtures, maritime place names, cargo types, object materials, and resource descriptions.
Key Statistics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Individual thesauri | 20+ |
| Current version | 28 (August 2025) |
| Last page update | February 12, 2026 |
| Formats available | PDF, CSV, Linked Data, RDF/SKOS |
Serializations & Technical Formats
The FISH Terminologies are distributed in multiple formats. All thesauri are available as CSV downloads. Many are also available as PDF documents in both alphabetical and hierarchical arrangements. A growing number have been published as linked data through the Heritage Data portal (heritagedata.org), with some also available in RDF/SKOS serialization. The thesaurus table structure follows the Historic England monuments inventory database format.
Governance & Maintenance
FISH coordinates terminology development through its Terminology Working Group, with Historic England providing hosting and significant editorial support. The thesauri are updated collectively, with new terms added through a formal candidate process. Version 28, released in August 2025, is the most recent release. All FISH vocabulary resources are free to use and do not require FISH membership. ALGAO wordlists for heritage asset management are also maintained under the FISH umbrella.
Notable Implementations
The FISH Terminologies are the standard vocabularies for Historic Environment Records (HERs) across England, Scotland, and Wales. They are used by Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland, Cadw (Welsh Government historic environment service), the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW), the Archaeology Data Service, the National Trust, and the British Museum. The Heritage Data linked data platform provides machine-readable access to many of the thesauri, supporting integration with other heritage information systems.
Related Standards
FISH Terminologies are closely related to MIDAS Heritage, the UK standard for recording information about the historic environment. The terminologies provide the controlled vocabulary referenced by MIDAS data fields. They also connect to the broader heritage information ecosystem through the Heritage Data linked data service and through organizations like ALGAO that use FISH wordlists for local heritage management.