21st February 2006, 11:04 AM
"Are you seriously expecting me to believe that curators check context sheets, drawings or matrices?"
Um, Troll, I do. On site and before the archive is accessioned. Curators like diggers are a mixed bunch; some would have had little or no digging experience, ten years ago in some counties, they would be retired gentlemen from other professions.With the advent of PPG16 archaeology became an industry and the effect of that has been that some of those who were diggers at that time are now in positions of responsibilty. Strangely, I am expecting an archive from I site I was a supervisor on 15 years ago. I will check my own context sheets and matrices.
Curatorship has changed as much as being a digger has but Tile man is right, it is unlikely that Curatorship will survive long enough for those changes to be felt.
Um, Troll, I do. On site and before the archive is accessioned. Curators like diggers are a mixed bunch; some would have had little or no digging experience, ten years ago in some counties, they would be retired gentlemen from other professions.With the advent of PPG16 archaeology became an industry and the effect of that has been that some of those who were diggers at that time are now in positions of responsibilty. Strangely, I am expecting an archive from I site I was a supervisor on 15 years ago. I will check my own context sheets and matrices.
Curatorship has changed as much as being a digger has but Tile man is right, it is unlikely that Curatorship will survive long enough for those changes to be felt.