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+--- Thread: Festival of BRITISH archaeology ? (/showthread.php?tid=1052)
Festival of BRITISH archaeology ? - oldgirl - 1st August 2008
Quote:quote:Originally posted by RedEarth
[quote]Originally posted by m300572
. In most cases round here we are still relying on the results of excavations carried out in the 19th century for sites that, had they been in the south, would undoubtedly have had at least one decent, funded programme of recent excavation.
But that probably means it was developer funded and so has therefore disappeared under concrete/tarmac/houses
I've recently been involved with some TOP archaeology in the north-east on England!
Festival of BRITISH archaeology ? - BAJR Host - 1st August 2008
This discussion is turning into a fascinating session... and I feel it is throwing up dozens of interesting points... I saw which way Redearth went, so will grab hold, drag back to spotlight and ask more
everything from perceptions of quality to the need for turning nasty nationalism into positive pride and bigoted arrogance into acceptive support. There is a whole programme to be made here... and the concept of border, is one of my faves .. down here (well it is in Scotland) in the Lowlands I love winding up audiences with the fact that they are actually Britons NOT Scots... and once the langiage was not English but British (Dalkeith, Pentland, Rosslyn etc) and we never spoke gaelic here.. so when the Angles came, we now have more in common with Welsh and North Anglish ..
I would rather see a celebration of diversity and of acceptance, as one that accepts that no one group that is around today i s 'better' than any other.
Yorkshire archaeology is great... I also love a bit of Northwest... the midlands.. top... the south east ... brill... (never worked in the proper southwest) but I am sure it is fascinating... wales... etc....
Celebrate a Festival of Archaeology... whenever you want, and how you want... in a way that suits where you come from in the UK Archaeology does belong to ALL.. and is also of equal billing across the country... or should be!
"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers
Festival of BRITISH archaeology ? - RedEarth - 1st August 2008
[quote
But that probably means it was developer funded and so has therefore disappeared under concrete/tarmac/houses
I've recently been involved with some TOP archaeology in the north-east on England!
[/quote]
Aye well, to be honest I'd rather have a relatively unspoilt wilderness that has seen little investigation by archaeologists, I'm not that sad. But even sites that are not threatened have, I would argue, seen a lot less investigation in some parts of the country (the northwest perhaps in particular) for other reasons - lack of university research projects, lack of well-financed amateurs, general lack of funds.
Regarding the North East - to be honest, when people talk about a north/south divide I see more of an east/west divide, the east tending to have the more money and more genteel cities, the west being poorer and rough around the edges, with its nicer bits essentially a playground for the rich (note recent news about David Cameron holidaying in Cornwall amid claims that some parts of the county are officially poorer than some east European countries). Think about it though, and you'll find the east/west divide even extends to Scotland.
East = well to do, old university towns.
West = rough, industrialised, a bit knackered.
I blame the weather. And I stand ready to be shouted down by everyone, la la la, not listening.
(Apologies to Wales, which is all in the west, perhaps there is a separate sub-division there).
Festival of BRITISH archaeology ? - RedEarth - 1st August 2008
Quote:quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host
This discussion is turning into a fascinating session... and I feel it is throwing up dozens of interesting points... I saw which way Redearth went, so will grab hold, drag back to spotlight and ask more
There is a whole programme to be made here...
Och, it's a bit late in the day fae that!
Maybe later. I too would like to celebrate diversity, I just think everywhere diserves a bit more time in the spotlight.
Festival of BRITISH archaeology ? - BAJR Host - 1st August 2008
nicely sidestepped
"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers
Festival of BRITISH archaeology ? - BAJR Host - 3rd August 2008
just as it got interesting... where averyone go?
The question still stands, If Scotland for the reasons explained above, has a whole month of archaeology events, and has done for 5 years now - (please see these for examples: where you see they are very integrated into tourism and economic development
http://www.perthshire.co.uk/index.asp?tm=49 Perthshire Archaeology Month
http://www.eastlothian.gov.uk/content/0,,6278,00.html (last years - sorry!)East Lothian Doors Open Day (Sunday 16 September) and Archaeology Week (Friday 7 to Monday 17 September)
http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/internet/internet_homepage/events_files/Edinburgh_East_Lothian_Archeaology.txt Edinburgh and East Lothian Archaeology Conference
http://www.scottisharchaeology.org.uk/projects/sam.html Scottish Archaeology Month 2008
etc etc
If Scotland has that, and clearly is not able to participate in two events such as this a year.. ie.. the Festical of British Archaeology AND Scottish Archaeology Month ... it is unfair to say, "well you are invited... its not ourfault you won't get involved. "
The reason we are 'not getting involved' is because we are already doing something... so thanks for asking, but best you carry on your thing in July, where it is more appropriate for England and Wales, and Scotland will do it in September, when its better for us... We will support your venture and let people in SCotland know about it, as I am sure they would love to go and see whats happening in July, and visa versa, we are glad that you support us by letting english and welsh folk know about whats happening in Scotland... after all, thats what its all about..?
Think on.... No nationalism, no patronising in either direction, just simple facts...
"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers
Festival of BRITISH archaeology ? - Weegie - 3rd August 2008
Not sure where everyone else went, Mr Hostie, but I've been wrestling with a new home broadband connection, and that's my excuse.
Possibly part of the problem is that the discussion had gone off in several interesting directions at once - the meaning of a relatively modern border in an archaeological context, anti-English feeling in Scotland, differences within Scotland and "Scottish" identity, our Welsh friends' perspectives, and so on. Hard to know which one to respond to first. Happy to take up the gauntlet on any of these, perhaps in new threads,but I'll stick with this one (with apologies to oldgirl and other Welsh readers) and respond to your last message.
Despite protestations of mutual friendship and support - "there is no division between CBA and AS. They are partner organisations working for a common goal" - I feel that there are tensions between the two over AS' perceived drift. I was first told about the CSA-AS rebranding by a CBA person, and I got the distinct impression that they were a bit narked about it. In this light, it is possible to see the 'Festival of British Archaeology' rebranding as an attempt to emphasise the CBA's national role and lead, even if that event doesn't actually carry much (if any) weight north of the border.
I'm not sure that there is an easy solution. CBA is hardly likely to back down on its (in my humble opinion) insensitive rebranding of National Archaeology Week, and Scotland will continue to do its own thing. On the other hand, I don't think that it's going to make a lot of difference - I'm sure that Scottish Archaeology Month and FOBA will both continue to run successfully. Next year I'll get over my bruised sensitivities and get on with contributing to our own FOBA event.
Brian
PS Deep-fried Mars bars in Petersfield? Good grief.
Festival of BRITISH archaeology ? - BAJR Host - 3rd August 2008
Nicely put Weegie
and true about the bruised, but may as well just get on... I suppose you just wish people would think things through a bit more... ask people .. and then don't get all defensive...
I will take you up on starting new threads... go on !
Its a new week after all.... and boy am I bored with bonekickers"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers
Festival of BRITISH archaeology ? - RedEarth - 4th August 2008
The issue of the two events is really not that important though, as this has been shown to have good reason and be well organised.
My question has been, and will remain, is there any point having both a national organisation and a Scottish one? (see previous reference to ven diagrams etc) It would be like having no EH but a 'British Heritage' but then still having Cadw, HS any any others. Overly beureacratic and arguably tokenistic.
Why could the same things not be achieved with one organisation - just have the events at different times of year, or if people really preferred separate organisations.
Another issue is the regional groups - I assume that as there is a CSA there is no regional group for Scotland within the CBA. (There may be a separate list of regional groups in Scotland, I don't know). However, the regional group organisation seemed to be entirely random, especially in the north and north-west of England. The north-west group is extremely active and produces lots of extremely good publications. The north group is seemingly non-existant and doesn't even manage to produce a newsletter. Although some genius did think of making the north group cover both the north-east and Cumbria, despite the fact that there is a not inconsiderable distance between the two, which doesn't help with committee meetings I would imagine.
This too smacks of an organisation that is far from national in its coverage, and also means that it is, and I hate to use the expression, a bit of a post-code lottery. If you join the north-west group you get extra newsletters and publications, if you join the north, nothing (although that may have changed recently). Hardly seems very fair when the membership is the same.
What's the situation with membership of the CSA?
Festival of BRITISH archaeology ? - BAJR Host - 4th August 2008
Now known as Archaeology Scotland: a rebranded strong identity.
I would not want to talk for them... however as a member myself of both Arch Scotland AND CBA I do know that a a member of AS I get:
a Free copy of Discovery & Excavation in Scotland an annual illustrated journal detailing ALL the archaeological discoveries in Scotland from the past year.
A glossy colour Archaeology Scotland magazine 4 times a year
Archaeological Research in Progress (ARP) conference ?showcasing up-to-date, regional excavation and investigation
Annual Archaeological Summer School, held at different sites around the country, teaches the public the kinds of skills used by archaeologists to investigate and survey archaeological sites ? Archaeology Scotland members are given priority placements
Scottish Archaeology Month!
Representation in the Scottish Executive.
Unwaged Individuals (including students and OAPs) ?20
Individuals ?25
Families (one set of publications per family) ?35
Society (3 ? 50 members) ?40
Society (51 ? 200 members) ?70 Society (>200 members) ?99
Membership rates including joint membership of Archaeology Scotland and our sister organisation the Council for Scottish Archaeology, please contact the Archaeology Scotland offices.
"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers