29th September 2007, 12:56 PM
I think we need a summary of what was said at the conference which may clear up some of the issues being raised.
I made the point that we need three things - the standard itself practical guidance and training. The Dutch standard does not replace the need for a site specific spec but it does simplify the process.
This is rather like the EH standard for building recording or the IFA/ICE contract where all the basics are covered in one document and there is no need to re-invent the wheel for every project.
The point is that that all archaeological systems in a sense derived or should adhere to the Valetta convention. Similarly the way archaeology is dealt within in the planning system is derived from Euro environmental laws. EIAs where made law in the early 1980s but not implemented in the UK until 1988 - PPG 16 was a logical progression from this.
So why couldnt we cherry pick all the various standards across Europe. I for one am not suggesting we impose a British Standard on the rest of the EU anything but.
Allowing free trade in archaeological contracts was one reason the Dutch translated their standard into English. It is also one reason for having a pan EU standard.
Peter Wardle
I made the point that we need three things - the standard itself practical guidance and training. The Dutch standard does not replace the need for a site specific spec but it does simplify the process.
This is rather like the EH standard for building recording or the IFA/ICE contract where all the basics are covered in one document and there is no need to re-invent the wheel for every project.
The point is that that all archaeological systems in a sense derived or should adhere to the Valetta convention. Similarly the way archaeology is dealt within in the planning system is derived from Euro environmental laws. EIAs where made law in the early 1980s but not implemented in the UK until 1988 - PPG 16 was a logical progression from this.
So why couldnt we cherry pick all the various standards across Europe. I for one am not suggesting we impose a British Standard on the rest of the EU anything but.
Allowing free trade in archaeological contracts was one reason the Dutch translated their standard into English. It is also one reason for having a pan EU standard.
Peter Wardle