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5th January 2006, 09:28 AM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by troll
Largely due to the fact that consultants keep these mickey mouse units on the books {snip}Make no mistake-it`s not just field units-I worked for a consultancy once where basic literacy was clearly optional.
Just consultants? What about all the small developers that don't use consultants but do use the crap units because they give cheap quotes? I would think that the latter are more prevalent and therefore more to blame than the former, but I guess consultants are an easy target.
As far as literacy is concerned, it seems to be optional throughout the profession and it is clear that it is not addressed while young archaeologists are doing their degrees.
Cheers,
Eggbasket
Gentleman Adventurer and Antique
"All human endeavour is futile"
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5th January 2006, 11:11 AM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by sniper
and what about units who don't even produce reports within a reasonable time. We have a 12 week after end of excavation deadline for assessment reports to be finished and I think that is as it should be. Have tried to find reports for sites I worked on the year before last, and as far as I can see, the SMR has no record of any reports being submitted. Can that be acceptable?
++ i spend my days rummaging around in dead people ++
It isn't acceptable to receive nothing, as the unit should at least be able to provide an interim report.
However it is common for large complex sites to take years. One example I know of where a large Roman industrial site with massive amounts of preserved organic (timbers etc) was excavated the report is expected about four/five years after completion.
When I look at the smiles on all the children's faces, I just know they're about to jab me with something!
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5th January 2006, 01:06 PM
Quote:quote:Largely due to the fact that consultants keep these mickey mouse units on the books {snip}Make no mistake-it`s not just field units-I worked for a consultancy once where basic literacy was clearly optional.
posted by Troll
Bear it in mind that the vast majority of archaeological work in the UK does not involve a consultancy firm at all - units are directly appointed by developers.
Consultancies are most often involved in larger projects, and will mostly (not always) use medium-large contractor units. Where there are consultants involved, there will usually be a greater degree of quality control than on jobs without consultants (although, before anyone gets on their high horse, we know that there are bad consultants as well as good ones, just like there are bad units and bad curators).
1man1desk
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