Some new features currently under test, including embedded Yahoo Maps and GeoRSS.

On any of our site location pages ('site pages'): Look for the links about half way down that say NEW: View this page with an embedded Yahoo Map NEW: Download or link to a GeoRSS feed of these sites

As we add more and more locations based on information gleaned from archaeology news feeds I think this is an excellent way to bring to life rather dry news items from the other side of the world and give them some geographic context. Tracking down the locations of sites in the news based on sometimes vague reports is very challenging and fun, and more help to do this is always welcome.

What GeoRSS can be made to do is that A.N.Other web sites could have a drop-down box saying: 'View the 25 nearest sites on the Megalithic Portal'. And vice versa the Portal could have a reciprocal 'View the 25 nearest sites on A.N.Other'. Also things like 'mashups' of maps become possible featuring data from various different sources on the web overlaid. There is more on how to use the new GeoRSS and other ways to link geographically in the 'Portal Talking Shop' Forum.

I am using Yahoo rather than Google maps as they hook very nicely into the GeoRSS, Google maps may be coming in the future although they are rather more complex to make work properly. I think these Yahoo maps are pretty good.

I have also just now created an international Postcode/Zip code search function.

Just enter a UK, German or US zip code into the search box at the top-right of any page.

UK post code can be either the two part code (SW1 1NN) or just the first part (SW1)

German post codes can be D- or DE- followed by a number, eg. D-01234

US zip code is just a number so just put that in and if it's a valid zip code then you'll be transported there straight away! If anyone can point me towards postcode to long/lat data for other countries I will add them too.

As you will see, the Megalithic Portal is not just European in scope but now truly international, with active contributors from the USA, Middle East, India and South Korea.

More new developments are coming soon. I will end by sending many thanks to the team of volunteer admins who now handle the day to day running of the Portal virtually unaided by me, this is what gives me the time to be able to take a step back and work on longer term improvements such as these. Cheers, Andy



"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu

And you thought you had it bad! - try the USA

Check out these threads on Pay and conditions in the USA
at Archaeology Fieldwork

Let's discuss fair compensation and CRM.
http://www.archaeologyfieldwork.com/foru....php?t=612

Field technicians: what is your current hourly wage?
http://www.archaeologyfieldwork.com/foru....php?t=147

well I have stuck my oar in too now... we are not alone and not the worst off.. lets support our digger/shovelbum friends across the pond!

here is one response I made. (harsh or what??)

Quote:quote-III Associates
Pay scale starts at $1950/month. All positions include paid holidays and other standard benefits. These positions also include additional health and welfare compensation. Transportation to and from job locations is provided from Salt Lake City. Meal reimbursement and lodging are provided on workdays.

Quote:quote:CCRG's Jackson
Hourly rate for experienced field techs is $13.00 per hour.
Housing will consist of single occupancy motel rooms. We will cover motel rooms on weekends for those who live a distance from the project area. Per diem stipend $30.00 per work day will be provided up front at the beginning of each week. No receipts are required for spent per diem.

Quote:quote: PB (Parsons Brinckerhoff)
Requirements include a degree in Anthropology/Archaeology or a related field with a field school; one or more years of CRM experience is preferable. Wage rates for technicians are $11-$13/hour dependent on experience. Wage rates for field directors are $15-$20/hour dependent on experience. Work weeks will be Monday through Friday, eight hours a day. Some weekend excavation is possible.

Quote:quoteB America offers a competitive pay and benefits package, including paid
sick/vacation time, 10 paid holidays, medical and life insurance.

Quote:quote:Massachusetts Archaeological Professionals
Looking to start mid/end of April, dependent upon weather and field
conditions, and lasting a minimum of 3-4 months. Pay rate of
$10.00/hr and up dependant upon experience. No per diem, travel or
lodging.

Just a thought for those that can't attend the IFA conference..

These are the sessions I wil be at..

If you have any questions you want me to ask on your behalf (and report back the answer) Then let me know.

VISIONS OF THE FUTURE: LIVE DEBATES ON BIG ISSUES IN THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT
14.00-17.30
Organiser: Peter Hinton, Institute of Field Archaeologists
In 2006 the conference included a session in response to the major structural and political shifts affecting
our approaches to the historic environment today. Our profession needs to discuss the strategic and longterm
implications of these changes and how they might affect the intellectual, philosophical and physical
framework in which we all work. Different constituencies have different insights: last year we convened a
panel of speakers from the national heritage bodies to address these issues from their personal
perspectives, and this year is the turn of the professional associations – which face some particular
challenges over the next few years if they are to fulfil their responsibilities and the expectations of their
memberships, government and its advisors. Flanking insights and predictions from the three major
historic environment institutes are a scene-setting paper from a Whitheall perspective and a consideration
of our future organisation from the lead advisory body to professional institutes.
Visions of the Future: using futures techniques to see how civil servants and heritage practitioners view
the challenges and opportunities of the next 15 years
Anne Locke (Anne’s MA thesis 'Future Past' for the Institute of Archaeology, UCL, drew on futures work
she was carrying out for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Title to be confirmed
Alastair McCapra, Chief Executive, Institute of Conservation
Scotch conservation tomorrow
Seán O’Reilly, Director, Institute of Historic Building Conservation
What happened in 2022, and why archaeologists should never attempt time travel without a proper risk
assessment
Peter Hinton, Chief Executive, IFA
Considering future directions for historic environment professionals
Christina Williams, Professional Associations Research Network


REGENERATION AND REFORM: TOWARDS A NEW AGENDA FOR BUILDINGS ARCHAEOLOGY
09.30 – 17.30
Organiser: Catherine Cavanagh, Victoria County History
The IFA’s been here for 25 years and buildings archaeology for even longer. However, it was not until
about 15 years ago that the profession really woke up to both the academic and commercial potential of
buildings analysis.
Are buildings archaeologists successfully influencing the sector and beyond?
This session will explore how the study of buildings can contribute to the future of archaeology and the
profession, in an ever more inclusive environment. We have the good fortune to study very tangible
remains, yet is our work accessible enough to the communities they belong to? How can we best influence
on the outcomes of planning and development? What is our contribution to regeneration?
By addressing these and other questions, perhaps we can map out a future for our subject and plan what
we, as buildings archaeologists (if the distinction is still valid) should be doing over the next 25 years.
Building conservation as a profession – finding solutions to 21st century issues
Dave Chetwyn, Planning Aid England (RTPI and Vice Chair IHBC)
Adding value to the conservation world: buildings archaeology and conservation plans
Heather Lindsay, Purcell Miller Tritton
Surveying the future
Stephen Bond, Tuffin Ferraby Taylor (RICS and College of Estate Management)
Reinventing communities through buildings
Mike Nevell, University of Manchester
Learning from the locals
Sylvia Wilson, Whitefield Conservation Action group
Buildings archaeology, authencity and restoration – a view from across the pond
Marilyn Palmer, John D Rockerfeller Jr Library
Discussion
Jason Wood (Discussant)
The session will be followed by the BAG AGM and tour(s) of the Reading area in the afternoon.



TRAINING: THE INVESTMENT IN OUR FUTURE
09.30 – 12.45
Organiser: Chris Clarke, IFA Digger’s Forum
Sponsored by:
Following the success of the session at the 2006 IFA Conference, the Diggers’ Forum is looking to continue
to raise awareness of issues and topics of direct relevance to those at the grass roots of archaeology.
This year’s session topic will be looking at training, an issue most are aware of, but few of us understand
the full potential it can hold. We all know that for those on temporary contracts, as well as for those
established within units, training opportunities are often few and far between or simply non-existent.
Units are often hesitant to spend money on staff training, where the work force is expected to have a high
turnover rate.
Such entrenched attitudes towards training among both employer and employee, leads to limited
advancement of current archaeological techniques. This is in addition to a steady rate of skills loss from
the industry. Ironically, this is in an industry that is permanently crying out for skilled labour.
So, where does the future of training lie within the industry? Whose responsibility is it to train the
workforce? Units, universities or individuals themselves? What rights does an individual have towards
training? Do employees know what is available? What type of training would be the most suitable? The
Diggers’ Forum session aims to provide answers, and raised questions, through a range of papers given by
those engaged directly in developing issues of training within the industry.
Session introduction
Chris Clarke, IFA Diggers’ Forum
Training for the future?
Kate Geary, Institute of Field Archaeologists
Preparing for the field: exploring alternative excavation practices to transform student training and
development
Hannah Cobb, University of Manchester and Phil Richardson, CFA Archaeology/University of Newcastle
Enhancing training and personal development opportunities for archaeologists: the work of the
Archaeology Training Forum
Dr Mike Heyworth, Archaeology Training Forum
Finds Group training sessions
Phil Mills, IFA Finds Group
The day of reckoning: what does the future hold for recruitment and training in archaeology?
Natalie Kershaw, Archpeople Recruitment
Accessible training: a Diggers’ Forum approach
Geoff Morley, Diggers’ Forum

ILLUSTRATORS AND SURVEYORS FORUM
14.00 – 16.00
Organiser: AAI&S
This is an informal session that will give illustrators and surveyors a chance to come together to discuss
issues that an IFA Special Interest Group could focus on. Everyone is welcome!
If you would like to discuss anything about this session in advance of the conference please contact
info@aais.org.uk

:face-huh: So... fire away...

"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu

Glad to see Archpeople are providing work for archaeologists in Bristol and South Wales. (think I recognise the jobs in question) -

Good to see they are up and running....:face-approve: and I look forward to meeting Natalie at the IFA conference, where I note whe is speaking about
"The day of reckoning: what does the future hold for recruitment and training in archaeology?" I will be at that session too supporting the Diggers Forum.

Should be interesting, to see how she has managed over the past year..... and what the future holds.


"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu

http://www.pasthorizons.com/worldproject...France.asp

Take a trip to France (oh go on... you know that you need a holiday and er.... do some archaeology!)

Or perhaps you know people who need a break!

"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu

Local Government employers offer 2%. From LGE website.

Local government employers submit formal pay offer to unions
The Local Government Employers will today present their formal response to the union pay claim which was submitted to council bosses last month.

Council leaders will make an offer of a 2% pay rise for the next financial year in line with CPI inflation targets.

Cllr Brian Baldwin, Chair of the Employers' Side, said:

"The key aspect of this offer is to make sure that any pay settlement is affordable to the taxpayer and councils while at the same time making sure that local government continues to be an attractive place to work in.

"It must be borne in mind that if the pay settlement is set too high then local authorities will have to make unpleasant choices between cutting front line services and laying off staff, neither of which either the unions or the employers want to see.

"The Employers' Side will take a firm but fair line with the Trade Unions that the government has set a framework for public sector expenditure in the next few years which must be fully reflected in ensuring that pay does not rise above what is affordable and acceptable to local people."

http://www.pasthorizons.com/worldproject...France.asp

We have been adding a french volly section to past Horizons... 54 sites so far.. more to come... helps if you speak French [?]!!

"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu

This has been sent to every Contractor the advertisies with BAJR (181) - so if you read this but ain't seen it...! :face-huh:

In keeping with the IFA recommendations to RAOs, and BAJRs commitment to support this across the industry these following criteria must now be met (or be aspired to with a defined timescale) for advertising on BAJR.


Holidays
For each month worked the employee is entitled to 1.666667 days holiday… in addition, they also receive any bank & public holidays that fall into the employment period. If it is not possible to take any of these holidays during short contracts, the time in lieu is paid at full rate.


Sickness
As with pensions, the rights for Full Pay sickness Benefits are strongly encouraged to offer this benefit from initial employment date. However, you can also implement a period of qualifying for this benefit. It does however not remove the right to SSP Standard rate £70.05 from April 2006. If you do decide to pay full or half pay, then you (as the employer) can claim back the SSP portion.


Pensions
The government wants people who can save for retirement to do so. Stakeholder pensions are designed for people without access to employer sponsored pension arrangements. They are secure, flexible and offer value for money. They will provide the opportunity for many more people to save for retirement in a way they can afford.

The legal requirements for stakeholder pensions are included in the ‘Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999’ and ‘The Stakeholder Pension Schemes Regulations 2000 - SI 1403’.

For BAJR, this means that if you have more than 5 employees and do not have a company pension scheme, you must provide access to a stakeholder pension – This however I leave up to you - Though can I make it clear that it may be a legal requirement.


Pay
Is based on a 37.5 hour week and represents minimums for each level of responsibility (On completion and adoption of the IFA Benchmarking for jobs in archaeology a more comprehensive review will be possible.)

The Current Rates are based upon two increases. (a 3% increase in base pay and a requested increase of 5% and is shown in brackets) The second rate is in many ways aspirational, but achievable, and it is up to the employer to decide whether to use this scale. It would of course mean that protective employs will be aware of a commitment for higher wages. Remember the NAME of the Post does not mean a pay rise! One persons Project Officer is anopthers Field Officer which is anothers Supervisor.. It is all down to responsibility.

The following section shows the minima for each Level of responsibility:
Please look at http://www.bajr.org/documents/payconditions07_08.pdf for more details (minimum levels are shown at the higher 5% aspirational rate) the introduction of Intermediate grades allows for progression and flexibility, and has been brought in after extensive consultation, they are meant to allow people to move up during a period of training/assessment OR to allow highly experienced individuals who do not wish to move to a higher level of responsibility to be rewarded for experience. Names of posts are irrelevant, it is based on Level of Responsibility and it should be noted the Grade relates to this Level of Responsibility NOT the monetary value of that position. The minima are there to reflect the least that can be offered for that kind of post to appear on BAJR.

GRADE: (typical post)
3%Required Minimum 5% BAJR Aspirational Level

G1 (Training Position)
£13404 (£257.78pw) £11,753 (£226.01pw)

G 2 (ie Basic Site Assistant)
£14270 (£274.42pw) £14,457 (£279.74pw)

G 3 (ie Site Assistant 2 or Technical Worker 1
£15231 ( £292.90 pw) £15,526 ( £298.58pw)

G 3/4
NEW (ie Senior Site Assistant or Technical Worker 1 or Junior/Trainee Supervisor )
£15923 (£306.21 pw) £16,232 (£312.15pw)

G 4 (ie Technical Worker 2 or Supervisor ) £16621 (£319.64 pw) £16,944 (£325.84pw)
G 4/5
NEW (ie Senior Technical Worker 2 or Supervisor or Junior Project Officer )
£17873 (£343.70 pw) £18,220 (£350.38pw)

G 5 (ie Specialist 1, or Project Officer SMR Asst.)
£19004 £19,373

G 5/6
NEW (ie Senior Specialist, SMR post and Project Officer or Junior/Trainee Manager)
£21522 £21,940

G 6 (ie Specialist 2, Senior SMR Post or Project Manager)
£23870 £24,334

G 7 (ie Directorial and Senior Management)
£30755 £31,352

I hope that is as clear as possible.. It is not meant to be restrictive but allow you as much flexibility as possible.. If you do have any problems or questions –if you disagree or want clarification – then please get in touch.

I am aware of the various ‘issues’ regarding differing pay scales and contracting units tied into larger institutions which perhaps are less flexible in their approach to pay and conditions in archaeology. We can often come to an agreement, but I would stress that my position is one of full support for the IFA, Diggers Forum and PROSPECT.


David Connolly, Director, BAJR


"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu

Watching Uni Challenge today ...

blow me if it ain't James Doeser.. Politics and Archaeology and quick button finger..

Go James !

Good to haev you at the Conference.. good to see you showing them archaeologists have a mind too!

"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu

Hello all -

I don't know if you're aware but Oxford Archaeology recently opened up a WMS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_Map_Service) / WFS (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_Feature_Service) of their data.

I built a demo to display this info on a Google Map.

You can see the results here: http://www.online-archaeology.co.uk/Goog...ges/oa.htm
Instructions here: http://www.online-archaeology.co.uk/wordpress/

It's a proof of concept exercise, but I think it has value to engage people with archaeology.

I'd be interested in hearing what people think of using this method to open access to spatial archaeology data and to display it.

thanks,

Steve
http://www.online-archaeology.co.uk


Steve White