3rd April 2007, 02:03 PM
While theoretically one uber-unit in East Anglia, or at least a co-op type organisation sounds appealing it absolutely impossible to imagine ever happening.
Principally beacause there has been so much archaeological work in Cambridgeshire in recent years (I'm involved in some of it), that there are an inordinate number of units working in the region, not all based so locally, who all have a right to tender for work. However I would not call any of them large units, medium and small - yes, but not large. Each has there own excavation and post ex teams, and most have internal specialists of one sort or the other. Thats alot of archaeologists in long term employment, and I fear any co-op or centralisation may have a severe impact on that.
On the flip side, it may be this level of competition that has brought about the Cam Arch situation. I haven't come across another county with such a level of competition (or to be fair work, and very interesting it is).
Principally beacause there has been so much archaeological work in Cambridgeshire in recent years (I'm involved in some of it), that there are an inordinate number of units working in the region, not all based so locally, who all have a right to tender for work. However I would not call any of them large units, medium and small - yes, but not large. Each has there own excavation and post ex teams, and most have internal specialists of one sort or the other. Thats alot of archaeologists in long term employment, and I fear any co-op or centralisation may have a severe impact on that.
On the flip side, it may be this level of competition that has brought about the Cam Arch situation. I haven't come across another county with such a level of competition (or to be fair work, and very interesting it is).