OK, as it looks as though professional archaeology is doomed to dwell in commercial land-who do you fancy getting sponsored by? Site sponsored by...cadburys? Stella Artois? Ikea? Channel? Rizla?...

Ahoy there Mr. Hosty! - AOC Archaeology have an advert on the jobs pages for a Heritage Consultant where the starting wages don't match the grade! It might only be a matter of ?295, but minimums are minimums...

This question has come up a couple of times on other discussions, and it seems fair to chew it over on its own. Is there a real difference in the "Archaeological Experience" in the North to that in the South of England? Are there different pressures affecting the way curatorial advice is given, decisions are justified and how that advice accepted by planners and planning inspectors? How does that change the way work is done on site (more watching briefs in the north seems to be a common theme). What could be the reasons behind this? Also, do units act differently in different areas - For example, I and colleagues I know in nearby counties find that northern-based units working in the area are sometimes recommending watching briefs as the next stage of work in the conclusions to desk-based assessments, when an evaluation is clearly warranted.

To start off, an abbreviated form of my previous posting said:

"I'm quite happy to recommend an evaluation on a one-house development, although it doesn't happen very often. I did this morning, on an undesignated site, based on information from the local society that medieval artefacts have been coming from the area. I'm quite happy to justify it to the planners (but rarely have to in any depth beyond a letter), and the question of whether or not it is going to cost the developers a prohibitive anount of money is not one I'm bothered about. However, I'm quite lucky in that house prices here are so ludicrous that the cost of such an evaluation would be swallowed up in most circumstances by the likely inflation of the house's selling price between the start of the development project and its completion.

I'm wondering if development pressures in the south mean that developers and planners have become accustomed to more stringent archaeological work programmes quicker than in the north, whilst the high selling prices in the south mean that the costs of such programmes are more readily absorbed or passed on the the eventual customer."

It seems there is a lot to talk about here - lets see if we can work out any regional trends...

Discuss!

I am vaguely outraged by this company, http://www.digital-documents.co.uk/ they advertise in Detecting magazines. I typed in my area on the free search ............ try it. This isnt purely NMR data, some of the entries appear to relate to newly discovered sites.

Hi All, am trying (with little success) to track down Iron Age infant (0-3 years) cremations from Britain. Wonder if anyone has come across any. I know specifying age is complex when dealing with cremation but worth a try. Thanks.

Thanks for the encouragement with the website too. Will keep you informed as to whether this eventually takes off or not.

You may have guessed by now- I`m not really a fan of this species although, they do come in all flavours. My question here is-what are the criteria for an archaeological "consultant"? Can consultancies make the criteria up for themselves? Does this not worry anyone out there? Bit unhappy about the growing trend of consultancies actively recruiting fresh graduates...anyone else disturbed by this?[?]

OK we've all made a mistake or two when digging. Machined a wee bit too much off? Left too much on? Mattocked when should have troweled? Pinged a few finger bones off the skelly, then lost its knee caps? Got the machine stuck in a muddy hole?

It's a brave archaeologist who can admit their mistakes. Can you? }

There are some excellent cd rom type bits for kids these days. Giz your recommendations for educational and fun type games etc with an archaeological theme...
For me, Master of Olympus:Zeus is the daddy. Empire Earth`s cool and Age of Empires a bit naff. Now Medieval/Rome Total War...wooohooo! Oh yeah, both the old and new 3d Pharoah...

Brahms? Mantovani? Abba? What flicks an archaeologists switch? Also, giz your lyrics that have a parallel with yer jobs........this should be interesting and potentially embarassing............[:p]

As we are all gearing up for next years` BAJR conference and beavering away at putting the machinery of change in place-here`s a light-hearted look at some of the most amazing or indeed, the most ridiculous finds made on site. I`ll kick of then. I found a 1977 "Snoopy" car air freshener beneath Roman architecture. A mate of mine, came across a blue and white Walkers (salt and vinegar) crisp packet beneath Roman architecture. I was talking to my boss today who told me of a curious find made in a Med pit. A dogs nose. Not the pooch, just it`s snotbox. Bonkers.....