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16th February 2007, 01:33 PM
I think we've been very lucky, as many of our digs are away from the public, but the few that have not were close to tourist centres. The notion of the 'commitment to educate' is very strong in our outfit and so we always mke sure one person is on the PR shift, which is useful for Repetitive Trowel Injury. It's turned into a bit of a travelling show of late. Telling the public about where they are, what sort of stuff has been uncovered in the past and letting them see what people are doing through the fencing and - more importantly - explaining what it is. A few pictures, a hundred photocopied handouts, a site diagram and the ability to answer questions goes a massive way I think.
At what cost? Unless you're in a huge rush or have a very small crew working, there's always someone who can take a coffee break talking to the odd person in an anorak the lumbers in through the mist.
Last year we did some Work in Italy and the local Arch society turned up and provided volunteers to do it for us. In return, their getting access to the site, seeing what came out and what stayed in was a reward they treeasured.
Involving the local amateurs gives the residents a sense of ownership, gives them perspective over where they live, provides local schools with interest and benefits.
And yes, there's the downside - which I suspect you suffer more in the UK than most other places; the irritants and the ASBO's waiting to happen. For that, I have no suggestion.
If I express an opinion, shoot the boss. He's a bad man.
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16th February 2007, 01:56 PM
I don`t feel that there is any justification for the exclusion of the public and particularly, during the lifetime of commercial projects.There seems to be a notion that it would be unsound to allow members of the public onto a working site for health and safety reasons.Yet it appears to be perfectly reasonable to have scores of members of the public on site all day, every day as workers.I don`t get it.I think that the current commercial environment in its secretive and semi-covert garb, does itself no favours.On the one hand, we generally agree that we all "own" our nations heritage whilst on the other, we adhere to clauses of client confidentiality and exclude the public at all costs.As a token gesture, commercial reports are then placed in a mysterious depository known as SMRs.The public at large have never heard of such a place and a goodly few reports are written in a bizarre and mysterious archaeo-speak anyway.We really are not making an effort.I believe that we have a duty to the public-sounds grand I know but- isnt it time that we became accountable, included the public, moved away from naff television docu-fantasies and dull site tours.Citizenship and just what it means to be a British citizen is now on the cards for our schools.Just what information will those classes be based on? Our own heritage has been on the open market for years now.Perhaps this is why the public are held at arms length? :face-huh:
..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)
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16th February 2007, 02:21 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by troll
Yet it appears to be perfectly reasonable to have scores of members of the public on site all day, every day as workers.
Do you mean employees?
D. Vader
Senior Consultant
Vader Maull & Palpatine
Archaeological Consultants
WSIs do not concern me, Curator. I want that site, not excuses
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16th February 2007, 02:27 PM
I most certainly do....apologies for lack of clarity....I understand that someone somewhere has decided that when we become "employees", we somehow become more robust and resistant to health and safety risks on site. "members of the public" on the other hand are for some reason, seen to be more, well....squishy for want of better terminology. 
..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)
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16th February 2007, 02:30 PM
Posted by Troll: Quote:quote:Yet it appears to be perfectly reasonable to have scores of members of the public on site all day, every day as workers
Of course, workers are under the control of their employers; they can be given health-and-safety training and forced to comply with site-specific 'safe plans of action' or equivalent.
There certainly are circumstances where it is justified to exclude the public on safety grounds, but I also have to agree to some extent with Troll, because this is sometimes done on a 'knee-jerk reaction' basis without real thought.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
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16th February 2007, 02:45 PM
Yes-members of the public can take part in safety inductions too, after all,we sat through them! It would`nt require effort on a gargantuan scale to provide either viewing platforms/walkways or simply, further reduce the risk level on-site to an acceptable standard.Ok, I accept that there will be unsafe environments but how can an industry deem it safe for one Human Being and not another on the basis of financial remuneration? Risk can be reduced-no question about it.Tiz a matter of will. The benefits of public consultation and, participation, would far outweigh the requirements of a clients confidentiality. :face-huh:
..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)
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16th February 2007, 02:51 PM
The only financial concern in terms of safety is that of insurance. People sometimes guard their premiums zealously.
If I express an opinion, shoot the boss. He's a bad man.
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16th February 2007, 03:43 PM
Insurance can be an issue, but it is possible for people to visit the site without actually going on to it. Leaflets are easy to print and very cheap - we handed out 700 copies of a little A5 leaflet at an open day last summer which was extremely well attended by interested locals.
[u] Click on this link</u> for the post on our blog about the open day.
You can also download the leaflet itself...
http://www.ironbridge.org.uk/downloads/W...eaflet.pdf
Paul
http://ironbridge.blogspot.com
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16th February 2007, 06:49 PM
Quote Troll
"We really are not making an effort.I believe that we have a duty to the public-sounds grand I know but- isnt it time that we became accountable, included the public, moved away from naff television docu-fantasies and dull site tours".
This sums up why I am doing my masters in Public Archaeology - especially the dull tours!! I totally agree. I love digging and the desk stuff and I used to get bored by school, museums (still do) etc... and it would not be an overexageration to say that I am a bit obssessive about archaeology. I want people to get the same out of it as I did - not necessarily as a full time job but as something thats fun, hands-on and get you involved in learning.
As far as Citizenship goes - in England I think that you can do about arch planning process at School as part of an option. In Scotland they do about sustainable development - in concern to the heritage. So it is starting to be taught. Filtering in through subjects like citizenship.
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16th February 2007, 07:05 PM
There is a big difference between public outreach in commercial archaeology (open days, site tours, exhibitions, other educational activities) and public involvement in commercial archaeology (the word 'involvement' to me suggests that the public are actually doing some of the work, not just being shown it).
Safety and insurance issues become a lot harder if the public are directly involved, as opposed to 'outreach'. That doesn't mean it can't be done, but it does restrict the circumstances in which it can be done.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
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