30th May 2004, 10:23 PM
I agree with destroyer that watching briefs and evaluations do have a value if nothing is found. The point I am making is are they giving good value - it is easy to spend other people's money. In Wales in the eighties CADW stopped funding watching briefs because they said there was a very low information return on the cost.
As for the poor householder who wants to build an extension because they can't afford to move I have little sympathy. The extension will increase the value of their house considerably. Archaeological work on an extension will always be relatively cheap.
The notion that developers can benefit from publicity about archaeology is both an old chestnut and generally untrue. It may be different in the US but in Britain the publicity is generally not worthwhile and indeed is counter productive.
Archaeology and the Historic environment can have a major value to developers - it all depends on how it is approached (and no I am not going to reveal how!!)
Peter Wardle
As for the poor householder who wants to build an extension because they can't afford to move I have little sympathy. The extension will increase the value of their house considerably. Archaeological work on an extension will always be relatively cheap.
The notion that developers can benefit from publicity about archaeology is both an old chestnut and generally untrue. It may be different in the US but in Britain the publicity is generally not worthwhile and indeed is counter productive.
Archaeology and the Historic environment can have a major value to developers - it all depends on how it is approached (and no I am not going to reveal how!!)
Peter Wardle