25th January 2007, 04:06 PM
As archaeology is the study of the material remains of humanities past activities then, by logical definition preserving archaeological remains is preserving things rather than people. It therefore follows on that anyone utilising these preserved things for benefit to the current population is actually engaged in 'heritage management' rather than archaeology, although 'heritage management' can involve archaeological works such as recording in advance of conservation or survey of a site in order to aid its interpretation. It is a convenient shorthand that most people confuse the two - it also makes it easier for the non-professional to grasp what we are about - if I tell a farmer that I am an arhaeologist he will tend to have a fairly good idea of what I am interested in, if I say I am the Historic Environment Advisor engaged in Heritage Management I am likely to get a blank look.
Citing archaeology for heritage management continues this convenient shorthand - if we all had the benefit of an education which encompassed the study of archaeology and the study of heritage management then it would be relatively simple to seperate these out - sadly ther are more people in the world who don't have the benefits of this that there are who do so we tend to go withthe convenient shorthand. You may cite it as intellectual fraud, I'd possibly cite the other extreme as pedantry. I do have arather better understanding of from where you are coming now though.
If 'farmer' is a redundant term best suited to late 19th-mid 20th C smallholdings how would you you define modern farmers? Many of them are still operating on relatively small farms and the huge arable farmers who run everything by contractor are still in control of what they grow and what inputs go into the land so are still farmers, even if on an industrial scale.
Pension scams - good job I'm not a civil servant then! I might think you were referring to me. Although I have been a civil servant as well as a digger, surveyor, supervisor, site director, project manager and planning archaeologist in my time.
Citing archaeology for heritage management continues this convenient shorthand - if we all had the benefit of an education which encompassed the study of archaeology and the study of heritage management then it would be relatively simple to seperate these out - sadly ther are more people in the world who don't have the benefits of this that there are who do so we tend to go withthe convenient shorthand. You may cite it as intellectual fraud, I'd possibly cite the other extreme as pedantry. I do have arather better understanding of from where you are coming now though.
If 'farmer' is a redundant term best suited to late 19th-mid 20th C smallholdings how would you you define modern farmers? Many of them are still operating on relatively small farms and the huge arable farmers who run everything by contractor are still in control of what they grow and what inputs go into the land so are still farmers, even if on an industrial scale.
Pension scams - good job I'm not a civil servant then! I might think you were referring to me. Although I have been a civil servant as well as a digger, surveyor, supervisor, site director, project manager and planning archaeologist in my time.