2nd June 2006, 10:38 AM
Very interesting Mole. I had not realized that they were used so widely in some areas, and thought the ones I've done were unusual, and the result of changes in direction by the curators.
I certainly hope we get more of this type of project because it is harder to manipulate the unknowns, as some parts of the industry like to do, when the archaeology is staring you in the face. Likewise, with preservation in-situ removed as an option, it seems that the only option for the developer is to deal properly with the archaeology. It's harder to claim that an area will be unaffected by development and then run machinery over it for months once the archs have left. Or to say that an area is only going to be piled through then to scour the pile positions or whole site to natural to remove "obstructions" to piling.
I certainly hope we get more of this type of project because it is harder to manipulate the unknowns, as some parts of the industry like to do, when the archaeology is staring you in the face. Likewise, with preservation in-situ removed as an option, it seems that the only option for the developer is to deal properly with the archaeology. It's harder to claim that an area will be unaffected by development and then run machinery over it for months once the archs have left. Or to say that an area is only going to be piled through then to scour the pile positions or whole site to natural to remove "obstructions" to piling.