4th May 2006, 12:11 PM
Huge topic. The striking issue is one that has been asserted by most and is the simplest.Specialist resources that have been consulted at the outset of any project design make for a coherent and managed archive.All too often, specialists are involved at the opposite end of the process in post-ex or, are infrequently called out when needed.The clue is in the term "specialist"
. Early consultation has to be a must.Discard policies (in my humble opinion) can be an open door to disaster if not written in explicit terms. If we all knew what to discard and what were intrinsically important fragmentary remains-we would all be specialists.In an ideal world, on-site specialists would manage discard, conservation and packaging of the recovered material archive.Sadly, it is a rare thing in commercial endeavours to ever meet with a specialist on site.At least long enough for them to talk to us. On one occasion, we were digging some deep strat/complex urban med and asked for some pottery markers. A specialist came out and some time later, produced and circulated a "local med pot for idiots" guide.This turned out to be a winner all round and the interpretation of the site processes became sharper. Involve your local specialists I say! Perhaps we could start thinking about the potential that large quantities of (academically un-wanted [:0])finds could have for the local community.Local schools could have their own archaeology display cabinets....plenty of undergrads in museum studies need to pass a display practical!! Build some finds into new-build facades-whatever it takes. At the minute, we do as we please with the archaeology in this country, including taking it upon ourselves to make decisions that either destroy (unwarrented) or discard material culture. Giving to the public in constructive ways would have an enourmous effect on the public perception of what we do.Recently, we`ve noticed a downturn in archaeology courses at schools and colleges and an upturn in Citizenship studies.This incorporates historical/archaeological themes alongside other complex issues.Wer`e a complex society and schools have to teach with a broad brush.We could make archaeology visible to the community and local institutions and I would argue that its about time we gave something back.Don`t throw it away.Storage...The SETI directors have shared the incoming data with anyone with a pc, the public are actively storing and analysing incoming data on SETIs behalf-share the load! Material discarded now could become key to interpretation later so fill library display cases/schools.I remember someone talking about a French underground station that had preserved/reconstructed strat in the new build? Anyone?
..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)
. Early consultation has to be a must.Discard policies (in my humble opinion) can be an open door to disaster if not written in explicit terms. If we all knew what to discard and what were intrinsically important fragmentary remains-we would all be specialists.In an ideal world, on-site specialists would manage discard, conservation and packaging of the recovered material archive.Sadly, it is a rare thing in commercial endeavours to ever meet with a specialist on site.At least long enough for them to talk to us. On one occasion, we were digging some deep strat/complex urban med and asked for some pottery markers. A specialist came out and some time later, produced and circulated a "local med pot for idiots" guide.This turned out to be a winner all round and the interpretation of the site processes became sharper. Involve your local specialists I say! Perhaps we could start thinking about the potential that large quantities of (academically un-wanted [:0])finds could have for the local community.Local schools could have their own archaeology display cabinets....plenty of undergrads in museum studies need to pass a display practical!! Build some finds into new-build facades-whatever it takes. At the minute, we do as we please with the archaeology in this country, including taking it upon ourselves to make decisions that either destroy (unwarrented) or discard material culture. Giving to the public in constructive ways would have an enourmous effect on the public perception of what we do.Recently, we`ve noticed a downturn in archaeology courses at schools and colleges and an upturn in Citizenship studies.This incorporates historical/archaeological themes alongside other complex issues.Wer`e a complex society and schools have to teach with a broad brush.We could make archaeology visible to the community and local institutions and I would argue that its about time we gave something back.Don`t throw it away.Storage...The SETI directors have shared the incoming data with anyone with a pc, the public are actively storing and analysing incoming data on SETIs behalf-share the load! Material discarded now could become key to interpretation later so fill library display cases/schools.I remember someone talking about a French underground station that had preserved/reconstructed strat in the new build? Anyone?..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)