Books

[trowelhead]

Good Morning,
As im about to enter the relms of the consultant I would be grateful if any of you guys out there could suggest a book that encapsulates the work range of a consultant encapsulating such things as EIA and Archaeological Project management so as I can bone up on things. Any help would be of great benefit.

Cheers

[eggbasket]

Well, I reckon Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun would be a good start for project management. You could also do worse than learn the lessons from the Dilbert Books (The Joy of Work, Dogbert's Top Secret Management Handbook, etc). I am not sure that there are any books specifically on archaeological project management, although revisiting Barker might not be a bad idea.

You could try these from IEMA (http://www.iema.net/):
Environmental Assessment Yearbook 2001 Latest developments in EIA and SEA law, procedure and practice
Guidelines For Environmental Impact Assessment

The second one is expensive but worth it IMO.

Cheers,
Eggbasket

Cheers,
Eggbasket
Gentleman Adventurer and Purveyor of Agitfop to the Masses

Civilise the City March: assemble at the Beau Brummell memorial on Jermyn Street, London SW1 on Saturday 15th October at midday. Please bring elegant clothing, a stout cane and a doffable hat.

[Cautionary Tale]

I would heartily recommend 'Archaeological Resource Management in the UK' as a starting point - Particularly Simon Collcutt's chapter. My is well used, and unusually a good read. A good flick through MAP2 (free from EH ) is also a good reference.

[the invisible man]

IFA Standards and Guidance should be on your shelf next to MAP2.

Today, Bradford. Tomorrow, well, Bradford probably.

[monitor lizard]

Hi all

Read MAP2. Understand it. Love it.

But don't get too comfy - it's only current until 2006, when it will be replaced by (at least for EH funded projects):

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.1323

scroll about 1/2 down the page until you get to the 'generic statement of project mangement' bit. Further specific guidelines will follow as they are produced.

ML

[Curator Kid]

I'd also recommend having a good set of the EH free publications that deal with methods and best practice.

ML - I can't believe they really adopted that drivel! I thought it was just a consultation paper. My office sent it back with a flea in it's ear. When in 2006 does it go live for EH projects?

[1man1desk]

I don't think that there is anything on "how to be an archaeological consultant", but some specific topics are covered.

For info on EIA, you could look at "Methods of Environmental Impact Assessment", by Peter Morris and Riki Therivel, especially chapters 1, 7 and 14-16.

Ralston and Thomas ('93) "Environmental Assessment and Archaeology" (IFA occasional paper, probably out of print) is also useful, although a bit old.

There's useful stuff about the broader planning context in Cullingworth and Nadin "Town and Country Planning in the UK" and in Paul Selman "Environmental Planning".






1man1desk

to let, fully furnished

[drpeterwardle]

The consultants reading List.

The starting point is Simons paper.

Then
Archaeology and Law by Sameuls and Pugh Smith
Archaeological Heritage Law by Cookson
Building on the Past by McGill

Key Policy commentaries
Are Informed Conservation
Sustaining the Historic Environment a discussion paper.

Any general book on town and country planning to tell you how the system operates and has elvoved. I used

Town and Country Planning in Britain Cullingworth and Nadin

Preserving Archaeological Remains on Site the conference proceedings

Also
Risk analysis in the constuction industry
Risk Uncertainty and Decision Making Byrne
Management for the Construction Industry. Lavender

A general book on law such AS law.

I wouldnt bother with the huge number of standards documents that have been written at this stage. You prob know the basics in any event.

I would have a look at assessments etc produced by the firm you are joining and other leading consultants such as CGMS, Ove Arup, RSK or the Oxford Unit to name a few and compare them with purely archaeological organisations.

As you are joining a firm I would ring them up and ask them. They may want to structure your reading, they may have the books or be willing to pay for some of them. Indeed I would hope that they would have some training in mind.

I have inhouse manuals for many things (but no they are not publically available) and your new firm may have the same thing.

Peter

[Mtgorry147]

Maybe given the proper texts listed above, you need a lighter read and should try

Harry Archaeologist and the Chamber of Secrets

because god only knows whats in there.

[troll]

How to blag your way through archaeology
any comic really
The law actually works really...
How to make your own blinkers
How to smell of coffee
Make your own blinds to hide from reality
How to condescend and irritate
How to empty a cheap thesaurus
The use of bland, insignificant examples to whitewash problems
How to build your own ivory tower
The Blue Peter guide to what on earth field archs are actually on about
How to separate emotional insecurity from objective work ethics
and finally, read "Puckoon" by Spike Milligan
All meant jovially of course-I wish you the best of luck in your defection.