16th September 2006, 09:34 AM
I cannot see a government which has tried to introduce competition into the NHS going into the archaeological market. On any level, in capitalist, market economic terms, the archaeological industry works very well - prices are low and there is competition in all areas of the country. There are some large units and they in no way are dominant in the market in all areas of the country.
I am not saying, in any way, that this is a good thing. The 'success' of the market in archaeology has kept prices and wages down. All I can see is that introducing frachises would have exactly the same result as it has in the railways - worse service and higher costs and higher subsidies from the government for the worse companies - not to mention virgin trains. My idea is slightly different regional specialists should be located, and employed by county museum services. The museum services are the organisations which curate archaeological archives. The specialists based in that region, or county, should be able to undertake all specialist work in that county and advise planning archaeologists on the production of brief and even possibly aid in the monitoring of fieldwork. Basically working in an analogous way to the regional science advisors for EH but also undertaking specialists reports.
I think this would have the advantage for increasing the involvement of specialists in fieldwork and in ensuring a level of consistency in reporting within the county or region.
I am not saying, in any way, that this is a good thing. The 'success' of the market in archaeology has kept prices and wages down. All I can see is that introducing frachises would have exactly the same result as it has in the railways - worse service and higher costs and higher subsidies from the government for the worse companies - not to mention virgin trains. My idea is slightly different regional specialists should be located, and employed by county museum services. The museum services are the organisations which curate archaeological archives. The specialists based in that region, or county, should be able to undertake all specialist work in that county and advise planning archaeologists on the production of brief and even possibly aid in the monitoring of fieldwork. Basically working in an analogous way to the regional science advisors for EH but also undertaking specialists reports.
I think this would have the advantage for increasing the involvement of specialists in fieldwork and in ensuring a level of consistency in reporting within the county or region.