19th September 2013, 05:15 PM
Jack Wrote:[...]
Where are the societies to dig beyond the excavated area to answer the questions we are often left with.....If only we could have looked beyond the development boundary we could have seen if A was contemporary with B, seen if C was an square barrow or a structure....etc.
But where, barring the odd exception, are the commercial units that have the time, money or clients permission to engage with academia/societies? :face-stir:
Why is there such a gulf between field and classroom?
One problem facing societies wanting to excavate but not prepared to jump through the hoops for an HLF wad every time an opportunity comes up is that of costs. For example, it's impossible to get a finds assemblage examined for free, there's the running costs (does the site need fencing, a toilet etc...) and the possibility of having to hire in a professional archaeologist to oversee the operation. I know, because we're having just this discussion in our local society at the moment. There are many people who want to do the kind of work you mention, but it's not that easy to organise a group of amateurs with any degree of certainty who'll actually turn up, and money has to be found in a way that doesn't price out the majority of volunteers. If anyone has bright ideas on this front, do please let me know, because I'm sure there are many opportunities to do just as you say, and a willing bunch of people there to do it if given the right chance.