13th June 2008, 11:46 PM
Not wishing to contribute to the good / bad IFA argument, I think that Drumcharry's suggestion of a regulatory body - Offarch?? - is a brilliant idea and one I've heard mooted about before.
Such an organisation could be seen as delivering inpartial judgement and monitoring as long as its members were free from association with commercial units and the IFA, or even from local and national government bodies. I also believe that the IFA's role could be more defined as the professional organisation it attempts to be, leaving the matters that cause so much contention up to a higher authority. Perhaps its members could not only include archaeologists but also other professionals such as lawyers, engineers, doctors, members of the public...
Such an organisation could be seen as delivering inpartial judgement and monitoring as long as its members were free from association with commercial units and the IFA, or even from local and national government bodies. I also believe that the IFA's role could be more defined as the professional organisation it attempts to be, leaving the matters that cause so much contention up to a higher authority. Perhaps its members could not only include archaeologists but also other professionals such as lawyers, engineers, doctors, members of the public...