3rd February 2006, 12:17 PM
We need to have archives - digging sites and not storing the evidence is akin to trashing them in my book, as the site can never be interrogated or re-assessed. Preservation by record can only function if the record is accessable.
I also think that one of the other main problems with archiving is that units do not cost for the archiving work. A big site can easily take weeks if not months to get into an acceptable state for depostition (marking things, putting them in proper bags and boxes, packing, listing photographs & slides, sorting through the paper) and it really rankles that so seldom is this accounted for at the costing stage....
You're very right, Invisible - every county needs a LAARC.
ML
I also think that one of the other main problems with archiving is that units do not cost for the archiving work. A big site can easily take weeks if not months to get into an acceptable state for depostition (marking things, putting them in proper bags and boxes, packing, listing photographs & slides, sorting through the paper) and it really rankles that so seldom is this accounted for at the costing stage....
You're very right, Invisible - every county needs a LAARC.
ML