5th May 2008, 10:42 AM
If I understand D. Dave correctly, archaeologists being too close to developers is the problem. But generally the archaeologists with the best pay and conditions work for consultancies, which are often regarded as having the cosiest relationship with developers. Ironic?
Some archaeologists are supposed to be separate from developers- the curators. It's their job to apply archaeological conditions to planning applications, approve WSIs and sign off post-ex work. A decent curator will not let a shoddy piece of work get approved, and the contractor either should be taking a financial hit or going back to the client asking for more money.
Curators will of course say that they don't exist in a vacuum, that they form a small part of a planning team, that prevailing conditions and attitudes towards developers have more of a part to play than their individual contributions, they're too busy to police every piece of work etc.
Archaeology and heritage has never been so popular. If we can't get it correct now- in terms of pay and conditions as well as dealing with the archaeological resource in the manner in which it deserves- we never will.
Some archaeologists are supposed to be separate from developers- the curators. It's their job to apply archaeological conditions to planning applications, approve WSIs and sign off post-ex work. A decent curator will not let a shoddy piece of work get approved, and the contractor either should be taking a financial hit or going back to the client asking for more money.
Curators will of course say that they don't exist in a vacuum, that they form a small part of a planning team, that prevailing conditions and attitudes towards developers have more of a part to play than their individual contributions, they're too busy to police every piece of work etc.
Archaeology and heritage has never been so popular. If we can't get it correct now- in terms of pay and conditions as well as dealing with the archaeological resource in the manner in which it deserves- we never will.