23rd February 2007, 12:54 PM
Sorry Troll. It was the concept that small is not beautiful in your opening gambit. I think the problem is much worse the bigger the unit (than 1) the bigger the scheme. I also have a bit of problem with the concept of dbas as if they are a great big archaeology love in where the archaeologists get together at the earliest opportunity to help everybody do the best by the archaeology-which somehow includes the diggers- when its a dog eat dog world
I see dbas as confidential assessments of what the likely costs are based on what the curators have done (or not) elsewhere/abouts the site against whats possibly at the site and how you would do it and by it I mean excavate. Without an evaluation they are pretty much pointless guesses about curators likely attitude. I mostly tell my clients not to mention archaeology and see if the curators impose conditions. There again I mostly work small sites but I have built up a small cliental who seem to think it worth their while asking me for an âassessmentâ-âcome and have a look and tell me what you think.â Quite often the information is used to beat up the seller. Having done the research I feel ready for the site. In truth I think writing it all down as potentially helping the competition or providing evidence that can be used against me.
I see dbas as confidential assessments of what the likely costs are based on what the curators have done (or not) elsewhere/abouts the site against whats possibly at the site and how you would do it and by it I mean excavate. Without an evaluation they are pretty much pointless guesses about curators likely attitude. I mostly tell my clients not to mention archaeology and see if the curators impose conditions. There again I mostly work small sites but I have built up a small cliental who seem to think it worth their while asking me for an âassessmentâ-âcome and have a look and tell me what you think.â Quite often the information is used to beat up the seller. Having done the research I feel ready for the site. In truth I think writing it all down as potentially helping the competition or providing evidence that can be used against me.