WSI

[Magpie]

I have been searching the net trying to find an example of a good WSI (Written Statement of Investigation). I would like to see one so that I can get some practice in writting one from scratch . Can anyone help me with this?

[BAJR Host]

Contact me off list and will help out....

though perhaps this is a good one for a BAJR guide...

The one thing I find is that no matter what you cover in your WSI, you will miss a vital (but costly) element!

Quickly,

Introduction....
(why you are doing it)
Objectives
(what are you intending to do)
Methodology
(how you will do it)
Staff
(who will do it)
Further work, reports, post ex, mitigation, etc etc
(what happens next, what might happen, and how you deal with it.)

Look carefully at the Curatorial Brief/statement... look at what they want, look at the site, work out how you can achieve what they want in the most cost effective way... but remember... you could save money on using less staff.. but it might take longer... which could cost more...

BAJRs WSI help! (mailto:info@bajr.org) ;)

or call me on Saturday ... 01620 861643



Another day another WSI…

[drpeterwardle]

I would be surprised if you find a written scheme of investigation of the net.

In short a "wsi" is the document submitted to a planning authourity to show how the archaeology of an area will be dealt with.

Firstly the name WSI is now a common term when what is being produced is a functional specification. I disagree with David he is being curator like. The document is also a contractual document between client and contractor something curators forget.

In many respects such documents are often simply saying that you will do what is in the brief and follow codes of conduct.

On the other hand they can be strategy documents stating how something will be handled. My shortest was a four line email.

On other jobs there has been virtually a daily WSI to enable work to continue when something has been found unexpectidly.

In complicated cases the WSI is the document that formally sets out what has been agreed/demanded by the curator after prolonged discussion/arguments.

David has missed out for excavation the most important thing - the sampling strategy.

Peter Wardle

[Magpie]

Thanks Mr Host and Dr Peter, your replies have been very helpful although it does appear that the purpose of a WSI can be a bit flexible and mis-understood. I like the idea of regarding it as a "Functional Spec" as this is a document that I can identify with from work in other fields.
Mr Host , I did send you an email off-list so I hope yoy have got my email address.

Tnanks for your help


Magpie

[1man1desk]

As indicated above, the term WSI can be flexible.

The basic principle is to present a document to the curator that explains how the archaeology will be investigated, as part of the requirements of a planning condition.

You will often get this type being produced by a contractor if they have already been appointed before the production of the WSI. However, this way of appointing a contractor is not good practice, as they will have priced on the basis of a curatorial brief alone - and curatorial briefs are rarely adequate for pricing purposes, especially with competitive tendering.

It is therefore preferable for the WSI to be prepared before the invitation to tender, and in such circumstances it will usually be written by a consultant who will probably write the WSI in the form of a Specification so that it can be used for procurement/oversight of a contractor.

Of course, some curators write their own WSIs and issue those instead of Briefs.





1man1desk

to let, fully furnished