28th September 2009, 10:58 AM
Right... have talked with Birmingham Archaeology - (mainly to highlight some rather unflattering comments on other sites - so they are aware. Though I feel it would be best to ignore them, rather than comment)
All I will say is that an Anglo-French War is looming!
To bring the discussion about the merits of the Archaeology - the finds were in ploughsoil - deep ploughsoil, and as archaeologists (not students - but real archaeologists) were able to identify that which was in ploughsoil, and that which were in sealed context. The Video quality was maybe not of the best, and really only concentrated on when somebody found something, rather than the 99% of the time when they were carefully digging, sieving and otherwise doing what Archaeological Companies do. What you see is just a bad edit, rather than any evidence of bad practice.
Although I winced a couple of times, I know myself that when you are in the field, you can 'feel' when something is ready to come out, and when its not. Additionally, it is important to recognise this was ploughsoil.
Indeed the only thing that I say to detectorists is they should learn to recognise when ploughsoil turns to solid undisturbed subsoil.... hit that, and anything taken out is taken from a real context. The Wantage brooch for example came from such a solid context, and the detectorist recognised this was important enough to stop... and therefore allows the saving of a whole grave.
After hearing from BA, I am happy to stand up and say... nothing to see here ... move along
All I will say is that an Anglo-French War is looming!
To bring the discussion about the merits of the Archaeology - the finds were in ploughsoil - deep ploughsoil, and as archaeologists (not students - but real archaeologists) were able to identify that which was in ploughsoil, and that which were in sealed context. The Video quality was maybe not of the best, and really only concentrated on when somebody found something, rather than the 99% of the time when they were carefully digging, sieving and otherwise doing what Archaeological Companies do. What you see is just a bad edit, rather than any evidence of bad practice.
Although I winced a couple of times, I know myself that when you are in the field, you can 'feel' when something is ready to come out, and when its not. Additionally, it is important to recognise this was ploughsoil.
Indeed the only thing that I say to detectorists is they should learn to recognise when ploughsoil turns to solid undisturbed subsoil.... hit that, and anything taken out is taken from a real context. The Wantage brooch for example came from such a solid context, and the detectorist recognised this was important enough to stop... and therefore allows the saving of a whole grave.
After hearing from BA, I am happy to stand up and say... nothing to see here ... move along
For really I think that the poorest he that is in England hath a life to live, as the greatest he
Thomas Rainborough 1647
Thomas Rainborough 1647