10th February 2005, 02:03 AM
Hi all,
The evidence that I obtained was significant enough to be of value in a court of law. The response of the curator was that he had no power to enter the site and whilst there was a mild interest expressed in seing more of it. This response was clearly timed not to take the matter further. I'd rather not go into it further as I see little point.
This situation will not change until archaeologists change, or are forced to change. The number that refused to get involved when I was trying to gather and understand the evidence showed to me that there is little hope of change from within.
Similarly it is clear to me that our government is not interested in heritage, and as long as the current situation is kept in private the majority of the British population will go on thinking we are looking after the heritage it holds so dear.
Many of the ideas suggested on this thread seem very sensible, but there is no will for change either from within or outside the profession.
The only way things are going to change is if people are willing to stand up and be counted - to dish the dirt in public. If I wanted to set up a lucrative rogue unit I simply would not bother joining IFA. If by some error I found myself a member, I'd continue bodging the job knowing that there is no-one looking over my shoulder and IFA, without the ability or apparent will to gather evidence are far more likely to cover things up than to risk smearing the profession with a scandle.
Not that I see IFA as a major problem - one can hardly blame them for the situation we are in - heritage funding is taking a nosedive in favour of tourism projects - councils have rid themselves of the costly units, the planning rules are as bent as they come and our politicians of all flavours could not care less.
Yet my experience is that the public do care - a great number of them hear the spin put about by all involved and think things are fine - they assume archaeology is done to the same standard everywhere. When they get to find out the reality most are shocked, many refuse to believe it.
So what's the answer? Is there one? I really can't see change happening from within. Perhaps we should form our own political party - the Heritage Party - if the main parties saw it as a vote winner they'd soon get on board. Until then we are just a bunch of annoraks and moaning minnies.
The evidence that I obtained was significant enough to be of value in a court of law. The response of the curator was that he had no power to enter the site and whilst there was a mild interest expressed in seing more of it. This response was clearly timed not to take the matter further. I'd rather not go into it further as I see little point.
This situation will not change until archaeologists change, or are forced to change. The number that refused to get involved when I was trying to gather and understand the evidence showed to me that there is little hope of change from within.
Similarly it is clear to me that our government is not interested in heritage, and as long as the current situation is kept in private the majority of the British population will go on thinking we are looking after the heritage it holds so dear.
Many of the ideas suggested on this thread seem very sensible, but there is no will for change either from within or outside the profession.
The only way things are going to change is if people are willing to stand up and be counted - to dish the dirt in public. If I wanted to set up a lucrative rogue unit I simply would not bother joining IFA. If by some error I found myself a member, I'd continue bodging the job knowing that there is no-one looking over my shoulder and IFA, without the ability or apparent will to gather evidence are far more likely to cover things up than to risk smearing the profession with a scandle.
Not that I see IFA as a major problem - one can hardly blame them for the situation we are in - heritage funding is taking a nosedive in favour of tourism projects - councils have rid themselves of the costly units, the planning rules are as bent as they come and our politicians of all flavours could not care less.
Yet my experience is that the public do care - a great number of them hear the spin put about by all involved and think things are fine - they assume archaeology is done to the same standard everywhere. When they get to find out the reality most are shocked, many refuse to believe it.
So what's the answer? Is there one? I really can't see change happening from within. Perhaps we should form our own political party - the Heritage Party - if the main parties saw it as a vote winner they'd soon get on board. Until then we are just a bunch of annoraks and moaning minnies.
