Who is accountable????

[garybrun]

OK who are archaeologists accountable too???
We have all this talk about ,heritage, recording etc.
How can things like this happen????
What back up systems are in place???

now don't all get defencive on me... real answers please.

quote:Twickenham Museum is seeking information about missing artefacts from Bushy Park Water Gardens excavations in the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames.

The missing artifacts were excavated by Christopher Currie during excavations in 1997-1999. A full account of the excavations was published in Post-Medieval Archaeology, Volume 37, Part 1 in 2003. The artifacts are listed on pp. 118 - 122 and comprise tin-glazed tiles, pottery and animal bones (not listed).
Unfortunately, Christopher died tragically in May 2005. His colleague, Dr Neil Rushton told us that he has checked the Chris's office and garage archive without success. We have tried the following to no avail:- The Royal Parks, The Crown Estate, Priestmere Properties Ltd, The Museum of London (accession number BHY97), and The British Museum. The BM's conservator, Maria Barlow, says that she handed the tiles to Christopher at the British Museum after conservation in August 1999. They were contained in a plastic 'tuppaware' type box; the box was about 8" x 12-15" x 6" deep and the tiles were wrapped in acid free paper.
We have been involved in research and restoration work on this project since 1996. The restoration of the Water Gardens is now fast approaching and The Royal Parks has been awarded a Heritage Lottery Grant to carry out a partial restoration. Part of the award includes funds to mount an exhibition at the Twickenham Museum http://www.twickenham-museum.org.uk. This exhibition is scheduled to commence in the Spring 2007.
We urgently need to locate these artifacts for use in the exhibition. If anyone has any idea of the location of them, please get in touch.
Colin White,
Treasurer, The Twickenham Museum
Clarence Cottage, Hampton Court Road, Hampton Court, Surrey KT8 9BY
Tel: 020 8977 5198 Tel/Fax: 020 8943 1812 colinhj.white@virgin.net

http://www.ukdfd.co.uk
Recording OUR heritage for future generations.

[BAJR Host]

A range of 'bodies'

depending on who the archaeolgist is or what they do. A Museum Archaeologist may be accountable to the Museum Association, or the DCMS, Contract Archaeologists are accountable to the IFA or the County Archaeology Service. 'Losing' Artifacts is rare, but can be annoying, where the likelyhood is they have been misplaced in the storeroom...

"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu

[garybrun]

I understand that David...
But if you have a good recording system you would know were they were stored in the store room would you not??? Also how much wasted time (wated money) will be spent franticly looking for the "lost articles"??A rather embarassing situation I think.

What happens if these articles are not found??

http://www.ukdfd.co.uk
Recording OUR heritage for future generations.

[BAJR Host]

Again this is a rare occurance... embarrassing - YES. But with every system, you have to input human error. a misread code, an interuption where you lay something down ... It is not common. The system (in 99.99999% of the cases, works)

If the articles are not found it is not a complete disaster.. as they have been 'recorded' at both post excavation and conservation level, they are not completely lost, but this is an example of a tragic incident where you never expect to die... and if he was asked before would probably known exactly where the box is.


"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu

[garybrun]

Thanks for the answers David.
I have been collecting and reading a few articles recently regarding missing articles.. that's why this caught my eye once again. Some of them are regarding finds that have been handed over to be recorded... but haven't seen the light of day.
That's why I was interested who are the various parties responsible too.
I like to keep you lot on your toes you know, as you also like to keep me.

P.s Whilst I'm very sympathetic with the tragic death of a person its still bad management. If I die tomorrow you can always find my stuff on UKDFD.

http://www.ukdfd.co.uk
Recording OUR heritage for future generations.

[BAJR Host]

I love people who keep me on my toes.... and yes it is unfortunate... but sods law is that the one tupperware box you need is the one that is missing..(from its right place in the archive)

"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu

[garybrun]

Could all archaeologists please check their lunch boxes for the missing articles :face-huh:

http://www.ukdfd.co.uk
Recording OUR heritage for future generations.

[tom wilson]

What is this quote Gary? Where did you get it? Who was Christopher Currie? Who was he working for, if anyone? Who gave him permission to excavate in Bushy Park? It is very hard to comment on this without more information. I don't see why this is necessarily 'embarrassing' to archaeology in general on the basis of the information given. Mr Currie might have been remiss in his records, but maybe not for all any of us know, and it ill behoves you to speak ill of the dead. If you really wanted to know more you could speak to Colin White.

When I started out, an old lag told me 'always assume you'll be hit by a bus on the way home from work'. In other words, keep all of your records in full order. That's what almost every one of us does, particularly with reference to finds.

So, you're keeping a collection of similarly unsubstantiated rumours of archaeological misdeeds are you Gary? Considering the support that 'good detectorists' get from most of us here, the idea that you are collecting examples of 'bad archaeologists' disturbs me. Could it be that you are storing up ammunition for a possible future mudslinging contest over the legality of metal detecting, or some similar motive?

Perhaps you might bear in mind the perennial laziness and inaccuracy of the press regarding archaeological issues. For example, I wonder if your study includes the 'missing' piece of pelvis that 'proved' there were female gladiators in Roman London (why believe the report when the hearsay was so much more newsworthy?). I'm sure any archaeologist who has ever talked to a journalist has simiar stories.
(Sorry to bring that case up, for those involved).



'Have a good plan, execute it violently, do it today'.
General MacArthur

[Alfie]

Chris Currie was an excellent archaeologist who left a legacy of research and books. He was also a nice guy who died too soon. The finds may have been temporarily misplaced, but Chris left a lifetime of properly archived records.Gary I suggest you read one of his books then look at UKDN and ask yourself who should be embaressed.

[historic building]

Frankly this is just offensive to a great archaeologist who died too soon and is no longer here to defend himself.