last one
Zero Budget Archaeology in Local Authorities as Both a Service and a Research Tool
[video=youtube;etRAPDWBCro]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etRAPDWBCro[/video]
Murray Cook and Fiona Watson - Community Archaeology or Archaeology for the Community: Zero Budget Archaeology in Local Authorities as Both a Service and a Research Tool
Current academic paradigms regarding the nature of 'Community Archaeology' i.e. of the people, by the people and for the people divert from the core inspiration of the projects: people like archaeology and are frustrated at the lack of opportunities to engage and participate in it. Some will develop their own projects but most will not and even those that do run their own may not wish to keep doing it. At the same time the construction of any research agenda is ultimately an inter-play of the potential knowledge to be gained and the most appropriate use of finite funds and resources. However in many cases the existing knowledge base is close to zero and any new information represents a significant research gain. Community archaeology and citizen science can offer a potentially unlimited supply of resources to undertake archaeological excavations as well as other forms of engagement with the material and immaterial remains of the past that widen our knowledge base. It is argued here that archaeology as a discipline is best served through as much public access and engagement as possible, so that taxpayers can visibly see the benefit. As a consequence Local Authorities and other public bodies should be exploring a variety of mechanisms to provide archaeology as a service. This paper concludes with an exploration of the situation in Stirling Council, where a part time archaeological position, a training placement and a zero budget have been used to build a sustainable research and engagement platform achieved through partnership working and a shared ethos of improving access to archaeology.
Zero Budget Archaeology in Local Authorities as Both a Service and a Research Tool
[video=youtube;etRAPDWBCro]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etRAPDWBCro[/video]
Murray Cook and Fiona Watson - Community Archaeology or Archaeology for the Community: Zero Budget Archaeology in Local Authorities as Both a Service and a Research Tool
Current academic paradigms regarding the nature of 'Community Archaeology' i.e. of the people, by the people and for the people divert from the core inspiration of the projects: people like archaeology and are frustrated at the lack of opportunities to engage and participate in it. Some will develop their own projects but most will not and even those that do run their own may not wish to keep doing it. At the same time the construction of any research agenda is ultimately an inter-play of the potential knowledge to be gained and the most appropriate use of finite funds and resources. However in many cases the existing knowledge base is close to zero and any new information represents a significant research gain. Community archaeology and citizen science can offer a potentially unlimited supply of resources to undertake archaeological excavations as well as other forms of engagement with the material and immaterial remains of the past that widen our knowledge base. It is argued here that archaeology as a discipline is best served through as much public access and engagement as possible, so that taxpayers can visibly see the benefit. As a consequence Local Authorities and other public bodies should be exploring a variety of mechanisms to provide archaeology as a service. This paper concludes with an exploration of the situation in Stirling Council, where a part time archaeological position, a training placement and a zero budget have been used to build a sustainable research and engagement platform achieved through partnership working and a shared ethos of improving access to archaeology.