30th June 2009, 02:11 PM
Posted by mercenary:
On that basis, your job sounds like something that may have been done by an archaeologist, but was not actually an archaeological operation, as there was no intention to collect data on the material remains of the human past or to contribute to the study of the human past.
I recall something similar that I observed about 10 years ago. I was doing a walkover survey in a historic town, as part of which I passed through the churchyard. Trenches were being excavated for new services, and I met the vicar, who was rootling through the spoil heaps to collect bits of human bone in a carrier bag, for later reburial.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
Quote:quote:my role was to watch a pipe trench tear through a church cemetery and retrieve human remains before the public saw it. No provision for recording in any way though, and remains to be immediately reburiedThe best definition of archaeology that I know ran approximately on these lines: 'the study of the human past from the evidence contained in its material remains'.
On that basis, your job sounds like something that may have been done by an archaeologist, but was not actually an archaeological operation, as there was no intention to collect data on the material remains of the human past or to contribute to the study of the human past.
I recall something similar that I observed about 10 years ago. I was doing a walkover survey in a historic town, as part of which I passed through the churchyard. Trenches were being excavated for new services, and I met the vicar, who was rootling through the spoil heaps to collect bits of human bone in a carrier bag, for later reburial.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished