1st July 2010, 11:59 AM
This thread raises some interesting points.
1. I personally don't have a problem with watching briefs being used for training. My first 'solo job' was a large complex watching brief on a scheduled monument. Working with the support of an experienced PO who kept 'popping out' of the office to check up on me, I learnt more on that job than I ever learnt machining blank eval trenches. Watching briefs can be tough when archaeology is encountered, I know I have found loads, but this experience is vital for graduates to learn how to work with contractors and make the transition from being an 'academic' to being a 'proffessional' archaeologist. The key issue is training, I know that budgets are tight, but I believe that people should always be sent out with an experienced PO/ Supervisor first.
2. Ideally the developer should send copies of their plans to the unit in advance and these should be provided to the person going out to site. If they are not then the first thing I do when I arrive on site is ask the builder if I can make a quick tracing of their foundation and/or drainage plans onto permatrace, I have never encountered any problem with this. I then plot any archaeological features or blank representative sections directly onto my tracing of the contractors plans.
3. I have never had a problem asking a contractor to hold a level, however if you need to walk halfway across town to the nearest benchmark, you should ask your employer to send someone out to help, although as one of the respondents has commented this has cost implications.
1. I personally don't have a problem with watching briefs being used for training. My first 'solo job' was a large complex watching brief on a scheduled monument. Working with the support of an experienced PO who kept 'popping out' of the office to check up on me, I learnt more on that job than I ever learnt machining blank eval trenches. Watching briefs can be tough when archaeology is encountered, I know I have found loads, but this experience is vital for graduates to learn how to work with contractors and make the transition from being an 'academic' to being a 'proffessional' archaeologist. The key issue is training, I know that budgets are tight, but I believe that people should always be sent out with an experienced PO/ Supervisor first.
2. Ideally the developer should send copies of their plans to the unit in advance and these should be provided to the person going out to site. If they are not then the first thing I do when I arrive on site is ask the builder if I can make a quick tracing of their foundation and/or drainage plans onto permatrace, I have never encountered any problem with this. I then plot any archaeological features or blank representative sections directly onto my tracing of the contractors plans.
3. I have never had a problem asking a contractor to hold a level, however if you need to walk halfway across town to the nearest benchmark, you should ask your employer to send someone out to help, although as one of the respondents has commented this has cost implications.