16th January 2008, 12:13 AM
Gary, I don't think I have misrepresented you by quoting only parts of your posts, so I'll continue. It's common practice.
'You do owe the heritage record the "full record" whether it be practical or not.'
Amen to that. Unfortunately, what we are allowed to do on developer-funded projects gets called sampling, by which the powers that be mean not digging everything. Bang goes the full record right there, and if you visit any site that the county archaeologist has signed off you will see half excavated features all over the place, and ditches typically with only 10% dug. No-one likes this much, but that's how much convention decrees is enough to get a good idea of what was going on, and a reasonable cost to ask of the developer.
'I say again... what can be done to bring skills and experiences together to enhance the heritage record'.
Well, you could give us a detectorist's view of how last night's program represented/reflected your (unpaid) (pre-)occupation and those involved in this specific case. Letting those of us not involved in detecting know that might be very insightful (and therefore constructive). I have asked twice already though, so I'll go to bed now.
'You do owe the heritage record the "full record" whether it be practical or not.'
Amen to that. Unfortunately, what we are allowed to do on developer-funded projects gets called sampling, by which the powers that be mean not digging everything. Bang goes the full record right there, and if you visit any site that the county archaeologist has signed off you will see half excavated features all over the place, and ditches typically with only 10% dug. No-one likes this much, but that's how much convention decrees is enough to get a good idea of what was going on, and a reasonable cost to ask of the developer.
'I say again... what can be done to bring skills and experiences together to enhance the heritage record'.
Well, you could give us a detectorist's view of how last night's program represented/reflected your (unpaid) (pre-)occupation and those involved in this specific case. Letting those of us not involved in detecting know that might be very insightful (and therefore constructive). I have asked twice already though, so I'll go to bed now.