A handbook for new diggers?

[kevin wooldridge]

Don't give up yet David!! The BAJR guide to setting out a site grid was recently included in the recommended reading for my Masters course....so you have made it into archaeological curricula, albeit the redbrick variety.

Agree that it would be a shame to lose all the skills of 'manual' surveying, but suspect that we are the last of a breed. My GPS (not a particularly expensive version) can give me UTM co-ordinates and vertical levels to 5mm or less....when we get the rover later this summer it will be 10 times as accurate and with more widespread coverage...I'm guessing we are still rounding up dumpy levels to 5mm so where is the necessity for 'old' technology.....

[Ken Denham]

I agree that GPS etc is indispensible on site (if you can afford the equipment). However I can't see that the technology will totally replace hand drawn planning on site for the forseeable future and a basic knowledge of simple surveying techniques would enhance the accuracy of these.

[kevin wooldridge]

I agree that GPS etc is indispensible on site (if you can afford the equipment). However I can't see that the technology will totally replace hand drawn planning on site for the forseeable future and a basic knowledge of simple surveying techniques would enhance the accuracy of these.

I totally agree Ken and firmly believe that the best sites are those that mix high tech instruments with low-tech but high precision survey/plan methods. Unfortunately there seems to be a move on many sites to do away with hand planning completely and rely on the TST for feature outlines and section drawings for detail. Hardly surprising when a TST can be rented for as little as ?55 a week...whereas the cheapest digger these days must be closer to ?100 a week (self-employed, desperate to get a foot in the door etc etc).....

[chiz]

I agree that GPS etc is indispensible on site

Cobblers.
Simply not true. I have had this argument with Kevin many times, but GPS is not essential, indispensible or necessarily a Good Thing (as he hints in his post). They are unreliable and more than often on UK commercial sites the unintelligent use of GPS where alternative techniques are better suited hastens de-skilling of staff and a simplistic reduction of recording quality; GPS simply isn't required on many sites.

Convenient? Yes -to managers, but at what cost in quality of work produced? As Kevin says, it is a mix of techniques and an understanding of when to use each one to its advantage that is needed. We are currently using a mix of GPS, TST and traditional multi and single-context hand planning to record a large rural site, and each tool is useful, but GPS indispensible? No. Quick and convenient, yes. And therein lies the danger. But luckily our GPS pre-ex polygons will soon be replaced by hand drawn plans.

Apologies, but currently finishing a paper for tomorrow's conference on deskilling and the dangers of 'machines that go ping'...

[kevin wooldridge]

GPS is just another tool, albeit a very useful one. I think it is essential that every site is adequately located to either a local grid or national or global system and GPS is just the best tool at quickly and efficiently achieving that end.

It is untrue to say that GPS doesn't work, but there is a degree of accuracy involved and this comes down (largely) to a question of how much you are willing to pay for your GPS equipment. Imagine a tape measure that is only graduated in metre intervals, another that is graduated in 10cm and another in millimetres. Each could be useful in different tasks but some more than others. You wouldn't want to use the 'metre' tape to measure something that requires millimetre accuracy. The same analogy can be applied to types of GPS equipment.

I think the deskilling debate is interesting, but we shouldn't be Luddite about this. There are some devices that make our lives better and more effiicient. The trick with technology and archaeology is to make sure that the savings and efficiences are re-invested in archaeology and archaeologists and not just taken out of the system entirely.

[Jack]

Yes I agree with Kevin. GPS is brilliant for locating your grid, or getting a height for your TBM. Amazing for upland survey, condition surveys.

But low-tech basic surveying skills are invaluable for when your batteries run out, your GPS loses signal, and for checking your accuracy hasn't wobbled due to satellite loss, signal interference etc.

Technology has many new and exciting uses within archaeology. As long as the device, the levels of accuracy, and possible pitfalls are understood. Just look at geophysical survey. But i agree its important not to wander into 'black-box' technology. That is,
'this is the box that calculates A, this is the box that calculates B, plug them in and they will calculate A plus B.'
'But whats inside the boxes?'
'no idea'

How many people these days knows how a cathode-ray tube works? Or a microprocessor.
Its a human failing to take these technological wonders for granted without even thinking about whats going on inside.

But on the flipside. Technology can be better than old 'accepted' wisdom and techniques.........

Besides, GPS don't stretch after years of use. Tapes do }

[vulpes]

Besides, GPS don't stretch after years of use. Tapes do }

Ah, Jack, that's why you should be using chains like all good surveyors.

[Jack]

Ah, Jack, that's why you should be using chains like all good surveyors.

You saying metal doesn't stretch/deform? Are they made of adamantium:face-stir:

[Dinosaur]

.....tacheometry - measuring distance by use of a dumpy level or theodolite and a survey staff for those young'uns not taught it in college - why would you want to do this if you have a 30m or 50m tape at hand? Anyway I decided after some thought that actually '3-4-5' triangles are the most precise of low-tech survey solutions...so wouldn't bother with any of that old fashioned glass of water and a thimble survey techniques.

Generally I'd agree, but the last time I used it was in a garden (with all the clutter that implies) full of builders sticking in drains, underground tanks etc (with all the clutter that implies, plus a mini-digger) so tapes and triangles were a non-starter. Might point out that tacheometry can be distances and angles. Also tapes don't work well on slopes which tacheo does depending on how long your staff is - if you've got a theodolite and have tangents and stuff on your calculator of course that's not a problem. Alternatively get an EDM or GPS.....

Plane tables are fine bits of kit (not that I've used one for about 25 years, but I have seen others using them post-1990) :face-approve:

[Dinosaur]

Hand-drawn vs surveyed site plans - depends if you like s*** report illustrations really :face-stir: