Last year the only remaining manufacturer of colour reversal (slide) film ceased production of its ISO400 film, bringing into question the sustainability of using photographic film in archaeology. Since then Wessex Archaeology has been investigating the possibility of a digital only photographic work flow. Whilst there is certainly resistance to any such change amongst some stakeholders Wessex Archaeology believes that it is the only long term response to wider developments in photography.

This issue has already been discussed with a number of bodies including the IfA, and now WA would like to try and engage a larger audience in the debate so that as an industry we can come to a lasting solution to the growing shortage of suitable film. As part of this process we are publishing our draft digital only photographic policy for all interested parties to see. Please let us know your views on our policy, and this issue in general, in the comments section.

As part of this process we are publishing our draft digital only photographic policy for all interested parties to see.
http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/system/files...s8yFh.dpuf


Please let them know your views on our policy, and this issue in general, in the comments section : here http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/blogs/news/2...hic-policy

The BBC has reported that Northamptonshire County Council are proposing to cut funding for their archives and heritage department (which incudes the HER, Portable Antiquities Scheme and county archives service) by £75,000 over the next five years through a reduction in staff numbers.

A formal consultation on the proposals has now closed, however the final council meeting to discuss the proposals is on February 20th so there is still time to let the council know your views.


There are more details about the proposals on the council website and in the briefing note below.


This article in British Archaeology from 2012 gives more background into the history of the archaeology service in Northamptonshire and the worrying impact that previous cuts have had on archaeology in the region.


If you live in Northamptonshire and you want to find out who your county councilor is you can use the postcode search facility on the council website.



CBA Briefing Note - Proposed Cuts in Northamptonshire (312.3K, .PDF)
Briefing note about the current proposals to cut funding to the Northamptonshire Heritage and Archives Service

(from the CBA)

Is single context recording the only way? The past 30 years has seen a concensus reached in UK archaeology that there is only really one way to record archaeology. It is the single context method - devised originally by Wheeler in his post-war excavations, developed in urban and rescue archaeology during the 60s in places such as Winchester, theorised by Harris in the early 70s and formalized, particularly by the Department of Urban Archaeology of the Museum of London in the 80s and 90s. Nearly all curators of archaeology now require that the single context methodology is adopted on excavations under their curation.

But have we gone too far down that route and thrown out earlier practices of excavation that are as effective, in their implementation and results, as the single context method. Further I wonder if the single context system shouldn’t be reconsidered in the light of technological advances since the 1980s. Are some of the other methods of excavation, particularly those adopted in other countries, equally useful in recording the archaeological resource. Or is the concept of single context recording so good that it don’t need changing. Discuss…

(Students of the ‘School of Jack’ can gain study credits as a result of taking part in this discussion….)

The Scottish Crannog Centre would love people to fill in their survey, if you can spare a few minutes.

Project Summary
The Scottish Crannog Centre is a 5 star charitable heritage centre currently undertaking a two year project to review and develop their digital media so as to engage with our audience more fully.

In order to compile information on our website, please take a few minutes to review www.crannog.co.uk BEFORE completing our short survey.

http://freeonlinesurveys.com/app/renders...hljh395048

http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Develo...story.html

The construction firm were fined a total of £3100 for loss of the building. Now they will be submitting plans for redevelopment. Wonder how much they will make from that? Admitedly they had Conservation Area consent to undertake demolition previous to the arson attacks. Still, a £3100 fine is laughable!

The IfA has announced that following the granting of it's Royal Charter today. the exisiting organisation will cease to exist at some time in the near future and will be replaced by a Chartered Institute for Archaeoloigsts (CIfA). Congratulations are in order I think... [URL="http://www.archaeologists.net/charter"]

http://www.archaeologists.net/charter[/URL]

IfA's Petition for a Royal Charter of Incorporation was considered by the Privy Council at its meeting on 11 February 2014, and Her Majesty the Queen was pleased to sign the Order of Grant. Celebrate now, but save some capacity for later! Several profound formalities need to happen before the new Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) comes into being and the change of name happens, including drawing up the Charter on vellum, signing and the application of the Great Seal. This gives time for IfA to set in train all the processes required to complete this momentous transition. This decision is a spectacular endorsement of the role of archaeologists. IfA successfully made the case to the Privy Council that archaeology is a clear and distinct discipline working in the public interest. IfA established that IfA's accredited members subscribe to an ethical Code of conduct, have demonstrated their competence and made a commitment to developing their skills through Continuing Professional Development, and are subject to the oversight of their peersthe essential elements of professionalism. We have also shown the Privy Council that we have robust and fair processes for accrediting individuals and organisations, measuring compliance with standards, and for investigating allegations of unprofessional practice; and we have set out a sound, efficient and transparent structure of governance the necessary components of any professional institute seeking recognition.

Peter Hinton, IfA's Chief Executive, says: "If there remained any doubt that archaeology is a profession, uncertainty ends here.' "Things will be different now. Our influence is massively strengthened. The award of a Royal Charter will not be the end of a process but the best possible opportunity to increase the effectiveness of our campaign to enhance the status of archaeology and archaeologists, to raise standards of archaeological practice and so to give yet better service to clients and the public.'

Jan Wills, Honorary Chair of IfA, says: "This great news is a tribute to the hard work of this and previous Councils of IfA, their committees, groups and staff, who have over the years created a professional institute with the credibility needed for the granting of a Royal Charter. That the value of archaeology to the public, and our standing as a profession, has been recognised in this prestigious way is a tribute to our members. IfA members will at last attain parity of esteem with other professionals, by being recognised as belonging to a profession served by a Chartered Institute.' "I hope this momentous occasion will encourage archaeologists who are not members of our Institute to submit an application to become recognised as professionals, and so to participate in further developing the practice of the discipline we love.'



More Information

Further information about the IfA and Charter, including the Charter, bylaw and regulations can be found on our webpages at http://www.archaeologists.net/charter.

The Institute for Archaeologists (IfA) advances the practice of archaeology and allied disciplines by promoting professional standards and ethics for conserving, managing, understanding and promoting enjoyment of heritage. Further information about IfA and IfA Standards and guidance can be found at http://www.archaeologists.net.

For Archaeology News - Archaeology Research - Archaeology Press Releases

Will the current floods have damaged archaeology? Apart from the water I have noticed many news reports show large machines shifting earth around to make banks and drainage ditches I presume this is being done without regard to possible archaeology. People's homes and livelihoods do need protecting but I am wondering what the cost to our heritage is going to be when the water goes down.

Interesting discussion to have............not really archaeological......but then again could be:

All Apartheid is bad right?

http://pacbi.org/etemplate.php?id=868

So why is Israel allowed?

In the office at the moment we have 2-3 diggers busy digitising field drawings onto AutoCAD.
Despite there being two unused digitising tablets in the office, they are all scanning the drawings then over drawing the scanned images improted as rasters.
I was taught that using a digitising tablet was both more accurate and faster.
What do people think?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods?
Thanks for your comments:face-approve: