26th February 2007, 07:34 PM
Posted by Unit of 1:
Your own approach - saying that there should always be trial trenching because otherwise diggers don't get a job - contributes to this impression.
If a stand-alone DBA is required, part of whose purpose is either to determine whether fieldwork is required or determine the scope of fieldwork required, I strongly oppose the idea that it should be done by someone who expects to go on to do any subsequent fieldwork. The commercial expectations of that person could be seen to skew their interpretations.
Sometimes, however, both the need for fieldwork and the appropriate scope are clear without a previous DBA. Under those circumstances, it is appropriate for the fieldwork contractor to do desk-based background research. That is not technically a DBA, but could be described as a desk-based survey. I would normally expect this research to be reported together with the fieldwork itself, rather than separately.
In my own circumstances, I don't need to commission DBAs, because we do integrated Environmental Impact Assessment in-house. For that purpose, we employ lots of different kinds of environmental specialists, including 11 archaeologists.
Your comments about ground investigation suggest very poor liaison at GI design stage and in the field, but they don't address my points about GI.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
Quote:quote:âthe purpose of archaeological work in the planning process is not to provide work for archaeologistsâNo - it should always be done by archaeologists. But, providing work opportunities is not what it is for.
are you suggesting that archaeological work in the planning process should not be done by archaeologists
Quote:quote:âThere is a strong suspicion amongst many clients that archaeologists are prone to lining their own pocketsâ thats because clients barely meet the diggers with the trowel but instead meet the...this is barely sportNo - the reason for the suspicion is the track record of certain archaeologists of recommending work that is not required, or brow-beating the developer rather than trying to justify the need for the work.
Your own approach - saying that there should always be trial trenching because otherwise diggers don't get a job - contributes to this impression.
Quote:quote:âThere are many DBAs that demonstrate no need for fieldworkâI suspect that Mr Hosty probably meant that he had rarely seen TT without a previous DBA. I would be very surprised if he hasn't seen many DBAs without subsequent TT.
hosty seems to be under the impression that ârarely seen one without the otherâ with which I concur
Quote:quote:No opinion Mr Man on the archaeologist doing the fieldwork also doing the dba as well then?Yes, I do have an opinion, and it depends on the circumstances.
If a stand-alone DBA is required, part of whose purpose is either to determine whether fieldwork is required or determine the scope of fieldwork required, I strongly oppose the idea that it should be done by someone who expects to go on to do any subsequent fieldwork. The commercial expectations of that person could be seen to skew their interpretations.
Sometimes, however, both the need for fieldwork and the appropriate scope are clear without a previous DBA. Under those circumstances, it is appropriate for the fieldwork contractor to do desk-based background research. That is not technically a DBA, but could be described as a desk-based survey. I would normally expect this research to be reported together with the fieldwork itself, rather than separately.
Quote:quote:How do you find someone to stand in a great big landscape with your dba. Is it a system of mutual admiration or do you rely on an endless stream of desperate fatalists?Not quite sure what you mean by that, but if you mean "how do you find someone to do the DBA", there are plenty of consultants, and even if you have a prejudice against consultants you can commission a unit to do the work separately from any fieldwork.
In my own circumstances, I don't need to commission DBAs, because we do integrated Environmental Impact Assessment in-house. For that purpose, we employ lots of different kinds of environmental specialists, including 11 archaeologists.
Your comments about ground investigation suggest very poor liaison at GI design stage and in the field, but they don't address my points about GI.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished