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Quote:quote:Originally posted by oldgirl
PS and of course lots of specialists work from home with no problems at all, but I'm thinking that you're looking at a potential fieldwork contractor....
Indeed, I'm not talking about specialists, that's completely different. I am indeed thinking of people tendering for and doing fieldwork, from evaluations and watching briefs up to excavations. I can't imagine washing finds in my kitchen sink and sieving samples in my shed (if I had one), and wouldn't think that it looked very professional. Plus, for the sake of argument, say you are in such a situation and faced with a context that is perhaps worth sampling, would you perhaps be thinking 'well, I should sample that, but I really can't face trying to find somewhere else to store it, so I won't bother'. Similarly with finds of perhaps less than massive significance - might you be inclined to think 'I'll just pretend I didn't see them'. It's not the same as being a consultant or an architect, jobs that can be largely if not entirely done on paper. Of course, if you have suitable space to do all these things that's great, but it's a bit crappy to undercut someone who has gone to the effort of acquiring overheads such as these to then struggle to properly deal with the site archive. Or am I still being mean?
And before someone says 'that's their problem for filling up their home with drying bits of pottery and soil' it isn't because they are supposed to have some sort of duty to treat the archaeology in a suitable manner, which is what makes them a suitable contractor to carry out the work in the first place.
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[8D] STORING is OK, it's being able to move around.....
And trying not to mention the boxes under the table (which have human remains in them) when you're showing prospective purchasers around the house....
Anyway, don't worry Redearth, you'd said a number of times that you weren't specifically having a go at 'one-man-bands' (or woman bands I assume). If the organisation you're concerned about is going to get work, then they're going to have to supply the number and level of staff they say and demonstrate that those people are present on site, otherwise their client is going to get testy, let alone the curators!
(I and many other people have been known to count the number of people on site and check against how many there are supposed to be. And no, the 'they're in the toilet and will be back in a minute /training/on leave today' doesn't wash with me!)
Hopefully all will work out well. I've also been involved with sub-contracting teams to other, larger organisations when they've been short of staff (in the days not long ago when we had a shortage of archaeologists!), and have also passed work we couldn't cope with to other local organisations.
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Quote:quote:Originally posted by oldgirl
[8D] STORING is OK, it's being able to move around.....
And trying not to mention the boxes under the table (which have human remains in them) when you're showing prospective purchasers around the house....
Anyway, don't worry Redearth, you'd said a number of times that you weren't specifically having a go at 'one-man-bands' (or woman bands I assume). If the organisation you're concerned about is going to get work, then they're going to have to supply the number and level of staff they say and demonstrate that those people are present on site, otherwise their client is going to get testy, let alone the curators!
(I and many other people have been known to count the number of people on site and check against how many there are supposed to be. And no, the 'they're in the toilet and will be back in a minute /training/on leave today' doesn't wash with me!)
Hopefully all will work out well. I've also been involved with sub-contracting teams to other, larger organisations when they've been short of staff (in the days not long ago when we had a shortage of archaeologists!), and have also passed work we couldn't cope with to other local organisations.
I think I've yet to come across a one-woman-band in archaeology.
I suppose at the end of the day such practices just seem like another way of cutting costs potentially at the expense of archaeology, but obviously it goes on all the time in all types of organisations (I have seen the slightly hap-hazard manner in which finds were stored at at least one large RAO!) If you went to an accredited museum and they had artefacts randomly piled about, heaped in the staff room, under tables etc you might not be overly impressed - hang on, I think I've been to a few museums like that. Never mind!
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Quote:quote:Originally posted by RedEarth
Quote:quote:Originally posted by oldgirl
PS and of course lots of specialists work from home with no problems at all, but I'm thinking that you're looking at a potential fieldwork contractor....
Indeed, I'm not talking about specialists, that's completely different. I am indeed thinking of people tendering for and doing fieldwork, from evaluations and watching briefs up to excavations. I can't imagine washing finds in my kitchen sink and sieving samples in my shed (if I had one), and wouldn't think that it looked very professional. Plus, for the sake of argument, say you are in such a situation and faced with a context that is perhaps worth sampling, would you perhaps be thinking 'well, I should sample that, but I really can't face trying to find somewhere else to store it, so I won't bother'. Similarly with finds of perhaps less than massive significance - might you be inclined to think 'I'll just pretend I didn't see them'. It's not the same as being a consultant or an architect, jobs that can be largely if not entirely done on paper. Of course, if you have suitable space to do all these things that's great, but it's a bit crappy to undercut someone who has gone to the effort of acquiring overheads such as these to then struggle to properly deal with the site archive. Or am I still being mean?
And before someone says 'that's their problem for filling up their home with drying bits of pottery and soil' it isn't because they are supposed to have some sort of duty to treat the archaeology in a suitable manner, which is what makes them a suitable contractor to carry out the work in the first place.
As I said, many organisations have their offices in one place and their finds processing in others, we certainly did. And storage and archiving space elsewhere. It doesn't all have to be in the same building. You do, however, have to be careful to ensure that you pay the appropriate business rates/insurances etc where applicable. I do object to the suggestion that smaller organisations would 'turn a blind eye' to something important in the way you suggest.
Actually, you could argue that it's less likely that things would sit around unreported and unarchived if the storage space was less. I have seen many examples of larger organisations just going 'bung it in there and we'll deal with it when we have time'. 10 years later it's not exactly in a good shape.....
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Quote:quote:Originally posted by RedEarth
Quote:quote:Originally posted by oldgirl
[8D] STORING is OK, it's being able to move around.....
And trying not to mention the boxes under the table (which have human remains in them) when you're showing prospective purchasers around the house....
Anyway, don't worry Redearth, you'd said a number of times that you weren't specifically having a go at 'one-man-bands' (or woman bands I assume). If the organisation you're concerned about is going to get work, then they're going to have to supply the number and level of staff they say and demonstrate that those people are present on site, otherwise their client is going to get testy, let alone the curators!
(I and many other people have been known to count the number of people on site and check against how many there are supposed to be. And no, the 'they're in the toilet and will be back in a minute /training/on leave today' doesn't wash with me!)
Hopefully all will work out well. I've also been involved with sub-contracting teams to other, larger organisations when they've been short of staff (in the days not long ago when we had a shortage of archaeologists!), and have also passed work we couldn't cope with to other local organisations.
I think I've yet to come across a one-woman-band in archaeology.
I suppose at the end of the day such practices just seem like another way of cutting costs potentially at the expense of archaeology, but obviously it goes on all the time in all types of organisations (I have seen the slightly hap-hazard manner in which finds were stored at at least one large RAO!) If you went to an accredited museum and they had artefacts randomly piled about, heaped in the staff room, under tables etc you might not be overly impressed - hang on, I think I've been to a few museums like that. Never mind!
We're cross posting - Sorry!
I'm a one-woman band. (although actually I'm not really operating in archaeology much at the moment due to having a non-archaeology main job - it pays the rent!) - and I know a number of others, although most of us aren't in fieldwork.
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One woman bands.. try Fiona Baker at FIRAT.. for one example 
the point being is that archaeology is done to the highest standard.. and if that is, then thats fine by me
"Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage."
Niccolo Machiavelli
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I suppose at the end of the day such practices just seem like another way of cutting costs potentially at the expense of archaeology, but obviously it goes on all the time in all types of organisations (I have seen the slightly hap-hazard manner in which finds were stored at at least one large RAO!) If you went to an accredited museum and they had artefacts randomly piled about, heaped in the staff room, under tables etc you might not be overly impressed - hang on, I think I've been to a few museums like that. Never mind!
[/quote]
PS I'm currently working with Modern Records which are coming from amalgamated District Authorities. Most archaeological units I've seen are amazingly well organised in comparison..... It's a bit along the lines of 'ooo look, we've got a strongroom here we didn't know we had.... I wonder if these keys fit? Oh, I wonder what these records are? Do you want them? ....'
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I suspect that lots of successful archaeological units started life in someone's garage, and long may the tradition continue. The question is whether you gamble and invest heavily in overheads like storage space and equipment before you (hopefully) win the work.
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Dr Peter Head of Purchasing Here
This is certainly not a matter for the IFA it is a matter for advertising standards.
David said: "People do like to make a big thing about being a member of this or that... personally, I leave letters off .. "
what letters do you have after your name David? I use this not to have a go at David but to illustrate just how careful you have to be when making public statements.
The bottom line is simple who is the cheapest person to do the job. I have looked at virtually every archaeological company website and their are some which are questionable.
Peter
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Only a few... but I don't say. it only matters to me. some I used to have as well... but i don't have them either ..
fair point.
David Connolly, Head of Standards and Guidance, BAJR
"Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage."
Niccolo Machiavelli
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