Common Standards for Archaeology

[Dirty Dave Lincoln]

That's if you can get a straight answer from all of them without loads of words like possibly or maybe mixed in!!! but thats the fun of a good debate is it not?

[Beardstroker]

quote:Originally posted by Sith

quote:Originally posted by Dirty Dave Lincoln

Having said that,it will soon be twenty years since PPG16 was introduced and we should be moving towards one system being used by all museums.

This is an issue for the museums (and UKIC), who aren't affected by PPG16 except that they get a load of junk that they don't want from the archaeologists.

quote:one recording system for all units to use

This would be great but I can already hear the rumblings about who's system or sheets are best.

Multiple or single-context planning anyone? [:p]


D. Vader
Senior Consultant

Vader Maull & Palpatine
Archaeological Consultants

Don't make me destroy you, Curator

I remember a few years ago, a group of us bottom feeders put together a revised version of our units site recording manual and context sheet design, which had not really been properly updated since the late eighties/early 90's and were extremely cumbersome and timeconsuming to use. Managers didn't want to know unfortunately, as it didn't fit in the computer software the unit used,which was very badly designed indeed.

To give them credit though, they did incorporate a few of our ideas a few years later, but some of the major issues are still there.

[Dirty Dave Lincoln]

When i was working on the circuit back in the late 80's, i use to go from unit to the next taking copies of their recording systems to each new unit;as i naively thought then spreading new ideas.
After several months i gave up as the interest level was zero. No one cared for anything other than their own way of doing things.

[Sith]

quote:Originally posted by Dirty Dave Lincoln

When i was working on the circuit back in the late 80's, i use to go from unit to the next taking copies of their recording systems to each new unit;as i naively thought then spreading new ideas.
After several months i gave up as the interest level was zero. No one cared for anything other than their own way of doing things.

I used to do the same. Sadly, I lost my 'library' somewhere along the line which was a blow when I finally got the chance to help to design a system from scratch.

D. Vader
Senior Consultant

Vader Maull & Palpatine
Archaeological Consultants

Don't make me destroy you, Curator

[Dirty Dave Lincoln]

Its as if everyone is going by the old saying "if its not broke,dont try to fix it".
But every system-no matter how good it is needs improving sooner and later. Surely it can't be that painfull for archaeology as a science cum proffession to adopt one system of recording- were not talking,after all, of the Ten Commandments carved in stone!
For this to happen it would take co-operation between EVERY unit/organisation (both pro and amateur,tho i dislike the word amateur,as it is insulting to a lot of people who have contributed to archaeology over the years) to standardise the job so then it becomes user friendly to all-whether your a research student at uni, or wanting to make a career from digging.
Unfortunately competitive tendering does not create co-operation between all,it has the opposite effect-and that is not good for archaeology.

[Dirty Dave Lincoln]

P S There seems to be some rumours going around about act of nature last week,let me make it very clear-a spokesperson for the "Lincolnshire Liberation Society" has told me that their group DID NOT test detonate a 10 mega ton potato bomb (honestly)-and it was in fact an earthquake!
Brigantes and Mercians go home!

[Unitof1]

Looks like the Lincolnshire Liberation Society might have some explaining to do after all

http://www2.louthtoday.co.uk/frontpagehome/LOP1.pdf

[Dirty Dave Lincoln]

As the L L S' Headquarters collapsed they will now have to rebiuld, but only after a watching brief first!

[Unitof1]

Inse wincy tiny winey watching briefs not much of a threat after all- ?675 please

[Dirty Dave Lincoln]

What we need is a regulatory body to set a common standard for all units to adhere to,perhaps a licensing sceme for units to aspire to-without which units can't operate.Could that help to form a common code of work and keep standards high?