7th March 2006, 04:36 PM
Real Job,
I too struggled to think of any practical examples of changes in field practice as influenced by theory.
I also strongly disagreed with his suggestion that field archaeologists aim for neutral recording. I certainly don't. It would be like throwing away the years of experience that my colleagues and I have accrued to even try for a 'neutral' recording.
It brings to mind an argument I once had with some German archs who insisted that recording should be detailed and objective (colour pencils for section drawings!), but with not a jot of interpretation in it. Great for student archs I suppose, but a complete waste of experience otherwise.
I too struggled to think of any practical examples of changes in field practice as influenced by theory.
I also strongly disagreed with his suggestion that field archaeologists aim for neutral recording. I certainly don't. It would be like throwing away the years of experience that my colleagues and I have accrued to even try for a 'neutral' recording.
It brings to mind an argument I once had with some German archs who insisted that recording should be detailed and objective (colour pencils for section drawings!), but with not a jot of interpretation in it. Great for student archs I suppose, but a complete waste of experience otherwise.