8th December 2005, 02:19 PM
I am interested in the idea of this, but along with others I'm not sure how it would work. The nervous part of my mind worries about how WSI monitoring by another 'group' might affect the position of curators in the eyes of the governement (ie if we're effectively policing ourselves, there might be a temptation to squeeze an already small curatorial budget). I'm also not sure how this monitoring would work with a consultant involved. After all, when I write a WSI and a curator accepts it, I will monitor the contractor to make sure it's stuck to. I would see more mileage in the enforcement of the standing manuals which all units should use, and all employees should be familiar with. This would put the checks and balances ahead of any 'management speak' which occasionally creeps into WSIs, and focus on the actual archaeological fieldwork - after all anything in the WSI will flow from this anyway. The concept is a good one, and i would agree with CK to involve all rather than a small sub-set.
Haec olim meminisse iuvabit
Haec olim meminisse iuvabit