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9th November 2005, 12:11 PM
Edward Harris - We are truely not worthy.
I worked in the Middle East a few years ago, and there was a team there run by a Dutch Archaeologist, who were excavating in Wheeler boxes. It was Bizarre. We were digging in MoLAS-style 5m squares with single-context recording, and they didn't get it at all.
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9th November 2005, 12:38 PM
Curator Kiddo - I'm sad to say that there are still archies in good old Blighty who think archaeology involves machining to natural then emptying the features. I've seen some take this approach in deeply stratified urban sites. :face-confused: And the obsession with having sections to draw!!!
Such folk need to be locked in a room with copies of the Principles of Archaeological Stratigraphy and the MoLAS recording manual. Release should be dependant on digging an escape route stratigraphically with fully checked matrix.
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9th November 2005, 01:00 PM
I couldn't agree more Achingknees. I'd like to beat such folk around the head with my copy of Priciples of Archaeological Stratigraphy, but unfortunately I can't because this has just reminded me that Monitor Lizard borrowed my copy about 5 years ago and has still got it. Any chance of getting it back then ML?
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9th November 2005, 01:16 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by Curator Kid
I couldn't agree more Achingknees. I'd like to beat such folk around the head with my copy of Priciples of Archaeological Stratigraphy, but unfortunately I can't because this has just reminded me that Monitor Lizard borrowed my copy about 5 years ago and has still got it. Any chance of getting it back then ML?
But I want it. I use it to spread the Gospel of Mr Harris to the unenlightened. Surely that's better than it getting dusty on your bookshelf.....
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9th November 2005, 01:34 PM
But I can't spread the Gospel myself! I am shorn of the holy texts...
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9th November 2005, 02:21 PM
Buy a new one! Or go to Bermuda...
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10th November 2005, 01:17 PM
In context, the American website was commenting on our pay and conditions. Having worked with archaeologists abroad-I share your view, we have something to be proud of. On the other hand, I make the distinction between commercial archaeology and the proper variety. Achingknees has hit the nail on the head-pull everything out to natural, empty it and go home. Occurs with a frightening frequency.Just one practise of many. Archaeology does`nt belong in a commercial environment in it`s current form. Simply requiring the bare minimum from a client is an old and inadequate ethic. The rate at which development has increased since the introduction of guidelines has meant that a painfully incalculable number of archaeological sites have been approached with this minimalist attitude. Competative environments can be healthy yes but- where the minimum is the starting gate for the tendering process......[?]
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10th November 2005, 04:16 PM
That's it in a nutshell, Trollster, IMHO.
We owe the dead nothing but the truth.
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10th November 2005, 08:18 PM
Uncle Andy! Still owe you an e-mail or four......
Thanks for the post mate-hope you are well? I felt the need to point out the consultant bit because it illustrated a point well. Here, an honours degree generally knights one with the role of "digger".In Oz, even the use of the term "consultant" suggests that archaeology is seen in a different light. A new graduate seen as a consultant conveys a very different value-context for potential clients."Consultant" arguably raises the value/significance of the archaeology in the eyes of the public? Would be interested to hear how it all works. It can create a bit of hysteria here though, I think most of us would be wary of newly graduated consultants-although that of course depends on who you ask. I did`nt realise that Oz jobs were so competitive either.I worked recently with peeps who had undergone a four-year Classics degree.Any sort of archaeology was only offered as an optional short module. These guys dig other peoples countries........On another issue-without being too delicate, hows the wages going in Oz?
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18th November 2005, 02:12 PM
There a lot of people here who dig in the "planum" - horizontal spit method. The people who use it a almost all bull****ters, incompetents, or functionaries interested only in prolonging their projects. It takes 4-5 times longer on site, destroys all stratigraphic relationships, mixes finds, is almost impossible to phase, record contamination and residuality understand or recognise truncation. It takes even longer to analyse and write up even if possible. The people who use this method haven't a clue and it is evident when working with them and they spend most of their time trying to remove, backstab, trample on anyone who tells them they're wrong.
Little Tim
