Archaeology Abroad be conducted to IFA standards?

[muddyandcold]

Interesting subject. Is the proposal to apply IFA standards to all fieldwork completed abroad or just those projects completed by british univs?

If the former applies surely it wiffs alittle bit of imperialism! Europe/world wide standards should be responibility of an international organisation (as in football. Suggestions for names for this organisation please??? [?]

If the poll relates to british univs working abroad then yes absolutely!! Have been on several projects abroad which were no more than 'smash and grab', and run by 'respectable' univs.

Hope this posting conforms to the new AUP [?]

[BAJR Host]

Indeed it does Muddy.

I would like to think it applies to British Units/Uni's working abroad, rather than the march of a thin red line of IFA Redcoats telling the world how to dig. (now theres an image...!)

Front rank... mattocks ...... wait for it wait for it.........



Another day another WSI?

[troll]

I think it would be worth starting with an appraisal of standards and policy already in place. One of the sad consequences of Universities working abroad "smash and grab"- facilitated simply because the host country does not have an integrated methodology in place. The idea of standards across the board is appealing-in so many ways. Tiz not just the redcoats who use the world`s heritage as an academic playground though! The behaviour of University teams working abroad needs industry attention sooner rather than later. Not entirely convinced that an Institute already in place here in the U.K have achieved enough here to consider a wider audience just yet. Don`t forget, there are bone fide companies out there selling heritage as holiday (bring your trowel) packages too. It`s just not enough to even think about standards in such a confined space-Universities are only one smudge among many that dirty the water...

[troll]

On a slightly different note - Archaeology Abroad are a company, not to be confused with the terminology in the context of the thread? I notice the BAJR Poll uses the "company name" too........

[Sith]

quote:Originally posted by troll

One of the sad consequences of Universities working abroad "smash and grab"- facilitated simply because the host country does not have an integrated methodology in place.

I'm sure that I've banged on about this before and I'm also sure that I may have a biased view based on my relatively narrow experience, but most university excavations I've been involved with (in this country and abroad) have been pretty much 'standards free zones'. I'm talking about strategies being devised the day before excavation starts, p*sspoor and often non-existent records and lamentable standards of supervision. On the whole this is the case because the majority of those running and supervising these schemes only experience is from...university projects run in the above manner.

We frequently discuss the lack of skills and knowledge of elementary and 'best' field practice demonstrated by archaeology graduates, yet at the same time, three years at Grantchester, a 1st class degree and some funding for a PhD on 'sexual preferences in Roman Europe' qualifies you to dig up half of Herculaneum (example picked at random before anyone starts pointing accusing fingers).

Frankly, the introduction of any sort of standard, provided it can be monitored, would be a good thing.

Imperialism? Common sense more like.

[troll]

Could`nt agree more. Once again though, we are back where we started-standards.Absolutely no point whatsoever in drafting standards if they are not vigorously policed, let alone monitored. In a polite voice-academics and commercial types have been and are still, guilty of approaching archaeology as though they own it, can make it up as they go along and, all this in the comfort of knowing that when they have finished with it...no-one will ever know! This attitude is rampant amongst grown ups working on university projects abroad (if my experiences are anything to go by) and I feel that where a host country does not have an integrated/formalised infrastructure-this weakness is exploited fully by the professor-types as they can literally do as they please. In a similar vein, commercial concerns here in the UK can and, do, behave in an identical fashion. The "professionals" don`t have the right to vilify university standards just yet...if anything, we should be way ahead of the universities in terms of standards. Universities usually dig once a year, the commercial world works all year round. We should be seeing a profession that prides itself in its high standards in the 21st century. The reality is strikingly different. Archaeology has been dumped in a competative environment where the cheapest wins. Our Institute has consistantly failed in its mandate of maintaining standards.Some would say that they have`nt even tried. Does`nt take a Nobel prize winner to predict the outcome of this little recipe in a commercial environment............

[Cautionary Tale]

While I'm sure there is variability, I can say from current (if delightfully limited) experience that if the consultant/contractor is based in this country, presuming no higher standard exists, the IFA standards are applied in the formation of the brief, WSI etc etc. 10 years in the field and still naive enough to believe.

[drpeterwardle]

I have to say I disagree. The last University excavation I worked on was conducted to an exceptionally high standard. If the directors of said excavation read this, Hi you know who you are, and to the said supervisor I also say Hello.

On one undergraduate excavation I was the "site director" ie I was trained in how to run an excavation. Everything I wanted to do was referred to one of the said academic types who discussed with me what the "right" decision was. Not bad training.

In the practicals we did post excavation work on this and other sites. I should add this was all in the UK and my overseas experience was in Norway.

The last University excavation I looked at was:

well conceived
the diggers were happy
conducted to a good research design.

I think the issue is not about what should be done abroad but what the universities do here. Are they cutting edge research, good training or just a lot of fun on a "sunkissed hill fort".

Peter

[troll]

Good morning Doctor Pete. One example of good working practise does not constitute a healthy profession.In my experience, those who do provide such an example in their work go way beyond the guidelines issued by the Institute in question. Whilst I applaud the acceptance of standards across the board, I still maintain that there is absolutely no point in having them unless they are policed.Vigorously. I was careless enough to mention one particular outfit who could`nt even spell "standards" and I`m afraid to say that they are just one of many "professional" units operating in the UK who could`nt care less. Yes, there are good and bad. Making standards a voluntary option and, not policing those who sign up is aking for trouble.

[Reggie]

Troll - I suggest if you are going to point out someone else's spelling errors you should at least spell correctly yourself.
ie. "couldn't" not "could'nt"

[:p]