History is the study and interpretation of the past.
A question is asked in the present-day about a place, person, event, process or other thing in the past, and a historian then undertakes research to establish a body of information which then has to be interpreted in order to answer the question. History is not just research to find or establish 'facts'. History can be presented as biography, chronicle, genealogy, military history, environmental history and many other forms, and in heritage work is typically presented as a report. Historical significance does not necessarily mean old , although age can be a contributory factor, nor does it simply mean that a well-known historical person once owned or used an item, although again this can contribute to a historical understanding. A professional historian with training and experience of working in the heritage field should be included in any team involved in identifying, assessing and developing management policies for a heritage study generally, such as for a local council area or a government agency or a particular historical theme, and for individual heritage items.