15th January 2008, 08:31 PM
Calm down everybody it is only a debate.
I did not take Gary comment to mean that archaeologists wantonly destroy archaeological sites. So no remark to withdraw.
The point Gary was making is about topsoil archaeology and the contribution it can make. A perfectly valid one.
I have to say that I dont agree with the holier than thou attitude about archaeologists.
In days gone by some pretty tough decisions had to be made and still mistakes can happen. For example the Copper gate helmet was found in the watching brief not the excavation.
At the BAJR conference there was discussion that the term Tresure Hunter and Metal detector user are now loaded with such baggage that we actually need a new term to describe what in many respects is becoming a sub branch of archaeology.
As for the notion that amateur topsoil archaeologist should be deployed as a matter of routine this was also discussed at the BAJR conference. The health and safety card is a major issue as it will soon become complusory more or less so anybody will need H&S safety training and accreditation.
There are many reasons why amateurs cannot be deployed within development based archaeology but that is a another debate.
Can we stick to the discussion?
Peter
I did not take Gary comment to mean that archaeologists wantonly destroy archaeological sites. So no remark to withdraw.
The point Gary was making is about topsoil archaeology and the contribution it can make. A perfectly valid one.
I have to say that I dont agree with the holier than thou attitude about archaeologists.
In days gone by some pretty tough decisions had to be made and still mistakes can happen. For example the Copper gate helmet was found in the watching brief not the excavation.
At the BAJR conference there was discussion that the term Tresure Hunter and Metal detector user are now loaded with such baggage that we actually need a new term to describe what in many respects is becoming a sub branch of archaeology.
As for the notion that amateur topsoil archaeologist should be deployed as a matter of routine this was also discussed at the BAJR conference. The health and safety card is a major issue as it will soon become complusory more or less so anybody will need H&S safety training and accreditation.
There are many reasons why amateurs cannot be deployed within development based archaeology but that is a another debate.
Can we stick to the discussion?
Peter