2nd April 2010, 06:26 PM
Personally I will take the can of worms, open it, and slurp down a mouthful.
I can but agree to some form of 'barrier to entry' in which a certain verified level of competence is required. This does however begin an even more rapid slip and slide in creating two flavours of archaeology
Temporal Contamination Engineers who deal with construction and development - removing, mitigating and ensuring project deadlines.
AND
PubliArch - where like minded people who are wanting to study a particular area or site will do just that, taking as long as is needed over a long time period, utilising goodwill and local interest.
Of course, the TCE may indulge in a bit of PublArch because it can be more fun than the day job... (though sometimes the day job is good - it may consist of mainly looking into empty holes)
Quality will be skills based of course... and Quality must also be of value... (thats where the PPS 5 usage should come in) The development control Archaeologist will look at best value and ensure quality standards are maintained... not minimum... but quality standards...
see:
The quality management system in Dutch archaeology
and
Dutch Archaeology Quality Standard (KNA) (full pdf of the Guidelines)
www.sikb.nl/upload/documents/archeo/knauk.pdf
To my mind, this is the nearest thing we have to a damn fine system! :face-approve:
So in a nutshell.... why not! We have nothing to lose and all to gain from acting as professionals
I can but agree to some form of 'barrier to entry' in which a certain verified level of competence is required. This does however begin an even more rapid slip and slide in creating two flavours of archaeology
Temporal Contamination Engineers who deal with construction and development - removing, mitigating and ensuring project deadlines.
AND
PubliArch - where like minded people who are wanting to study a particular area or site will do just that, taking as long as is needed over a long time period, utilising goodwill and local interest.
Of course, the TCE may indulge in a bit of PublArch because it can be more fun than the day job... (though sometimes the day job is good - it may consist of mainly looking into empty holes)
Quality will be skills based of course... and Quality must also be of value... (thats where the PPS 5 usage should come in) The development control Archaeologist will look at best value and ensure quality standards are maintained... not minimum... but quality standards...
see:
The quality management system in Dutch archaeology
and
Dutch Archaeology Quality Standard (KNA) (full pdf of the Guidelines)
www.sikb.nl/upload/documents/archeo/knauk.pdf
To my mind, this is the nearest thing we have to a damn fine system! :face-approve:
So in a nutshell.... why not! We have nothing to lose and all to gain from acting as professionals