21st May 2007, 08:06 PM
Hi Tom
In reply:
1. Single Context Recording should lead to the clear recording of the intersection of two ditches - if it doesn't then whoever is doing the recording needs a bit of retraining. A multi-phase plan should show the relationship between the ditches, but the context record is the place that this relationship should be most clear.
2. Excavating in phase is a pleasant luxury that is often not available, either due to time or space pressures, or to lack of clear understanding. It is possible to dig a stratified site and keep it broadly in phase (emphasis here on the word 'broadly'). I always feel that a good site supervisor is one who can dig in phase wherever possible but more usually can dig out of phase but still be aware of which phase is being excavated in each part of the site / trench.
3. Interpretation box - agreed, this is the key to getting diggers to think about the features/area that they are recording, and the amount written in here is a good indication of how good the diggers and supervisors are as well as how good the system is. I have seen plenty of context sheets with a complete blank in this box.
4. Framework Archaeology - I have no opinion either way here, having never worked on an FA project. I was basing my earlier comment on the results of a previous thread on BAJR where those who had used the FA system seemed to be broadly in favour of it. I did think that some of the verbiage coming out of FA was a bit insulting, as it implied that no-one else had ever really allowed diggers to think for themselves, but I guess that FA had their own agenda for promoting their way of doing things and if the diggers felt more appreciated then this can't be a bad thing. If you want to see a 'more rounded perspective' then check back on the previous BAJR thread as this included contributioins from people more closely involved than I have ever been to FA.
1m1d - I'm not sure that I agree with you about multi-context planning of stratified urban sites. I thinl that this can work, but it needs a very good recording system and a highly trained workforce, as was the case when single context recording was developed and promoted. As I said earlier, I feel that Single Context Planning can be seen as dumbing down and does not result in a well-trained and 'reflexive' workforce.
Beamo
In reply:
1. Single Context Recording should lead to the clear recording of the intersection of two ditches - if it doesn't then whoever is doing the recording needs a bit of retraining. A multi-phase plan should show the relationship between the ditches, but the context record is the place that this relationship should be most clear.
2. Excavating in phase is a pleasant luxury that is often not available, either due to time or space pressures, or to lack of clear understanding. It is possible to dig a stratified site and keep it broadly in phase (emphasis here on the word 'broadly'). I always feel that a good site supervisor is one who can dig in phase wherever possible but more usually can dig out of phase but still be aware of which phase is being excavated in each part of the site / trench.
3. Interpretation box - agreed, this is the key to getting diggers to think about the features/area that they are recording, and the amount written in here is a good indication of how good the diggers and supervisors are as well as how good the system is. I have seen plenty of context sheets with a complete blank in this box.
4. Framework Archaeology - I have no opinion either way here, having never worked on an FA project. I was basing my earlier comment on the results of a previous thread on BAJR where those who had used the FA system seemed to be broadly in favour of it. I did think that some of the verbiage coming out of FA was a bit insulting, as it implied that no-one else had ever really allowed diggers to think for themselves, but I guess that FA had their own agenda for promoting their way of doing things and if the diggers felt more appreciated then this can't be a bad thing. If you want to see a 'more rounded perspective' then check back on the previous BAJR thread as this included contributioins from people more closely involved than I have ever been to FA.
1m1d - I'm not sure that I agree with you about multi-context planning of stratified urban sites. I thinl that this can work, but it needs a very good recording system and a highly trained workforce, as was the case when single context recording was developed and promoted. As I said earlier, I feel that Single Context Planning can be seen as dumbing down and does not result in a well-trained and 'reflexive' workforce.
Beamo