know its off topic but just went to check something and the CBA website seems to have disappeared, is it being updated or has it moved??

Lucy

Lots of speculation about the latest Digger Article... a classic Digger

remember though that this is under investigation... so no names banded about here...

I am very hopeful that the IFA will show that they mean business on this.... and if it is not true... then they will also make available the fact. BAJR will also refuse any further contact if the investigation proves to be true.

What must be seen to be done is an investigation that either publicly punishes OR shows to be innocent the Unit.... otherwise rumours will persist. Please let this happen...

http://www.bajr.org/Appeal/01_main.html

I hope you have all been here to pledge your support to this museum in Georgia on behalf of BAJR

After all ... it is not often I ask for your help... ... go on.... just a quid!! :face-approve:

it is not often you can make a difference with a quid

After a fun but gruelling Scottish Archaeology Month... it suddently came to me.. their is a fine fine line between treating archaeology as a business and treating it too much like a business. I often thought that I was telling clients that I was there to make sure that they did not find archaeology... and if they did I would make sure that they could work around it - An archaeologist who did not find / want to find archaeology...... is this right!.

BAck in teh 80's and enven the early 90's... it was possible to excite the client with tales of Roman postholes and Viking Wattle fences... you felt as if you were there to discover and find out amazing new things to offer to the public....

Did anyone notice when this stopped?? Am I the only one to think that the fun has gone... and only when you do things like national archaeology weeks/months does a glimmer of the 'way it used to be' come back?

I recently asked a group of diggers if they were enjoying a site....

nah... not really... there's nothing here... but at least the money is good. ---- I pointed out... interesting a number of things which would be of interest... including the why no archaeoilogy on clearly a suitable site... hmmmm yeah I suppose so they collectively shrugged while keeping an eye on the clock and the contract.

[xx(]

How much on the job training should a new graduate be given as part of their employment package. By training I mean structured learning by what ever delivery method used. I donot mean training such as the find go in the finds tray or you use a shovel like this.

An hour a week, an hour a day, a day a week or what?

Can there be an expectation of learning in their own time?

Peter

Bit of a tricky situation here. One of my colleagues has just started an evaluation on a site owned by the local council (of which we are also part). We were assured that the site was secure, but there are holes in the fences which are used by kids to get in and try to set fire to things. We informed the relevant council department but they have refused to do anything about it. Basically they're not prepared to spend money incase they don't get their planning consent. What bothers us, is that we might be liable if depsite our best efforts some twonk falls down a trench and breaks their legs. Any advice? Obviously we can do a certain amount of fencing ourselves, but surely the developer has some liability if they're too mean or lazy to secure the site?

Archaeology as a Business.

As the thread on BAJR/IFA/Prospect etc has evolved into a discussion about the nature of archaeology as a business and what the costs are, I thought I would start up a thread to discuss some of these issues that those of us who run businesses and others etc might like to discuss.

I actually take heart at the business things being discussed ? even if I disagree with them. Just 10 years ago to talk about archaeology as a business was just not acceptable.

In answer to the question of how much PI insurance is ? outrageous is my answer.

Similarly we could discuss if a hard hat given to a client is a legitimate extra, marketing, or is it a general overhead? (It affects which tax category you put the item in).

Peter Wardle

Caroline Wardle, archaeological secetary, here.

In response to Lucy

I first had a pair of "Caterpillar", the most expensive, safety boots which were so uncomfortable i had to take them off atthe end of the morning and go back to my trainers.

We took them back to the shop (Makro, a cash and carry chain, we went to the branch in Reading) and got another cheaper pair of black safety boots. They didn't say they were womens as such but they went down to small sizes. These are [u][u]really comfortable</u></u>, although to look at you wouldn't see the difference. Not really sure of the brand name of them but inside they say
OPTIMUM
SAFETY
FOOTWEAR
LEATHER UPPER

and on the bottom of the sole they say

OIL ACID RESISTANT
DOUBLE-
DUTY

On the tongue it says

BS EN 345-1 1993 CE
7-41 GRP-1
SHLL S1
ITS 0362
III 2003

The Optimum bit looks like the brand name, but we couldn't find it on the net.

Happy boot hunting

regards caroline

Peter says that the best places for steel toe cap wellies are horse riding shops - with brands such as Safety Hunters. These can be bought mail order from the Wellie Shop

from m.dunkley@wessexarch.co.uk

The Institute of Field Archaeologists Maritime Affairs Group is organising a poster competition devoted to the theme of 'Archaeology Underwater' to accompanying its 'Managing the Marine Cultural Heritage' Conference.
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, UK. 29 - 30 September 2004.

To find out more about the conference:
http://WWW.magconference.org.uk

POSTER COMPETITION
Posters should be of A2 size and reflect the contribution that an individual project or topic has made to study of the past through the undertaking of archaeology underwater.
Posters from students illustrating their particular research interests will be particularly welcome.
Prizes will be awarded to individuals or groups submitting posters which in the opinion of the judges best represent the theme of the conference.
The judges will take the resources available to the entrants into account when making their decision.
For a pdf application form:
http://www.archaeologists.net/groups/mar...sterco.pdf

Poster Competition Conditions Of Entry
1. All posters must be A2 size (42cm x 59.4cm)

2. Only one A2 poster per person/ project

3. All posters must arrive by Friday 17 September

4. All posters must be accompanied by a completed entry form

5. Posters will not be returned

6. The judges decision will be final

7. Poster copyright will remain with the author, although use of the poster
image will be granted to IFA Maritime Affair Group for publications related to
the Conference and its proceedings.

BAJR has approached the IFA and Prospect to discuss a joint front (along with ARIA, SCAUM and ALGAO etc) to deal with pay, conditions and career structure.

Your comments about this are extremely welcome....
questions such as ;
Are BAJR grades reasonable?
Should Curators be the people to rate the Units
Should the Units rate the Curators?
Is the problem pay or the lack of permanant work?
Do you want to see tax, holiday pay, pensions etc as part of your remuneration?
What do you want BAJR to say ... this is a chance to put your views forward (unless of course you already have!!)
Should BAJR remain independant?

many thanks ... as many comments as possible please!!