16th August 2013, 02:47 PM
My suspicion is that it all boils down to costs and if the curator does not stipulate an appropriate sampling stratagy as part of the brief then it won't get done. Commercial won't do it unless they have to (some exemplary units will out of professional pride). Community don't do it as there are limited funds and often no proper brief and it's not about the archaeology (again there are exceptions). Academic will do it as it is all part of the weird and wonderful world of archaeology they are selling to their students and academic reputation is crucial. It's simple, if it is about the archaeology first and foremost then it stands a chance of getting done if not then all bets are off.