2nd September 2009, 11:01 AM
I agree with the statement, but not sure what you define as the 'problem' in this context.
Looking at the abstracts of all of the papers in the session, it seems that the impact of the current economic situation is being felt everywhere regardless of whether archaeology is predominantly private- or public-sector. The session includes contributions from the USA and the Netherlands (for example) who have a strong private sector, from Poland and Spain (with a mixture of public- and private-sector organisations), and from Hungary, Romania and Russia (where archaeology is still predominantly a state concern).
I think some of the problems we associate with commercial archaeology in the UK are echoed in countries where archaeology is funded in other ways: downturn in fieldwork, problems of synthesis, dealing with backlog, training and loss of skills... and so-on.
I have no doubt, from previous similar discussions at the EAA, that all of these issues will be fiercely argued from all sides!
Looking at the abstracts of all of the papers in the session, it seems that the impact of the current economic situation is being felt everywhere regardless of whether archaeology is predominantly private- or public-sector. The session includes contributions from the USA and the Netherlands (for example) who have a strong private sector, from Poland and Spain (with a mixture of public- and private-sector organisations), and from Hungary, Romania and Russia (where archaeology is still predominantly a state concern).
I think some of the problems we associate with commercial archaeology in the UK are echoed in countries where archaeology is funded in other ways: downturn in fieldwork, problems of synthesis, dealing with backlog, training and loss of skills... and so-on.
I have no doubt, from previous similar discussions at the EAA, that all of these issues will be fiercely argued from all sides!