The ARCHAEOLOGIST

28 Pages·2008·1.24 MB·English

Autumn 2007
Number 65
The ARCHAEOLOGIST
This issue:
IFA CONFERENCE
2007 and
THE IFA ANNUAL
REPORT
Improving
archaeologists’
pay
p7
Training:
investment in
our future
p16
The setting of
cultural heritage
Institute of Field Archaeologists
features
SHES, University of Reading, Whiteknights
POBox 227, Reading RG6 6AB
p44
tel [phone]
fax [phone]
email [email protected]
website www.archaeologists.net
C
O N T E N T S
1 Contents
2 Editorial
3 From the finds tray
5 Qualification in archaeological practice: assessors needed Kate Geary
page 2
6 Registered Archaeological Organisations: an update Beth Asbury
7 Improving archaeologists’ pay Kate Geary
8 Outreach to developers: advice available Blair Pool
9 Excavating human remains: latest guidance Alison Taylor
10 New Guidance for HERs Martin Newman
11 IFA Conference: Reading 2007
12 Conference 2007: Visions for the future Peter Hinton and Anne Locke
14 Conference 2007: Writing archaeology and writing fiction David Wilkinson
16 Conference 2007: Training: Investment in our futureChris Clarke and the Diggers Forum
18 Conference 2007: Placement learning in archaeologyKate Geary and Natasha Kingham
page 36 19 IFA Annual Report 2006/2007
33 Conference 2007: Association of Archaeological Illustrators & Surveyors workshop
Margaret Mathews
page 44
34 Conference 2007: Great Excavations: the best of times; the worst of times John Schofield
36 Conference 2007: Archaeology and inclusion Tim Phillips
38 Conference 2007: Finds group session Duncan H Brown, Frank Meddens, Neil Brodie,
Jill Hind and Roy Stephenson
42 Conference 2007: Regeneration and reform Buildings Archaeology Group
44 Conference 2007: The setting of cultural heritage features Paul Masser
46 Conference 2007: Parasite or partner? Contemporary art’s relationship to archaeology
Simon Callery
48 Conference 2007: Bells, whistles and machines that go ping! Jane Sidell, Andrew David
and Vanessa Straker
50 Conference 2007: MAG session Mark Littlewood
page 50
51 New members
52 Members news
Autumn 2007 Number 65 1
l In addition to carrying our obligatory annual report, and other organisations but, at the time of writing, FROM THE FINDS TRAY
this TAconcentrates on IFA’s annual conference, it has manifested itself spectacularly in wide-scale
held this year on our home ground of Reading. floods that have disastrous immediate impacts on
Thus, unlike the usual TAwhich covers a single the historic environment, with longer term impacts
theme, it ranges around a great spectrum of inevitable. For this issue I am looking for articles on
archaeological endeavour. We have articles on vital aspects and evidence for climate change in the past,
a issues such as qualifications in archaeological for likely impacts of global warming on historic
practice (with a special plea for senior IFAmembers structures and archaeological sites as sea levels rise,
to come forward as future assessors), an update on for changes we ought to make in our care of
the current chaotic state of government rulings on monuments and archives, and for the impact of
Understanding the Scottish Town
excavations of human remains and (of course) measures to counteract climate change on the
AHSS National Conference 2007, held with the Universities of
archaeologists pay, but our wider views take us as historic environment (such as windfarms).
IFAFinds Group list of specialists Stirling and Dundee, 19-20 October 2007, Lesser Albert Hall, Stirling.
far as considerations of modern art and evidence of
IFAFinds Group is compiling a list of finds specialists Recent Burgh Surveys have advanced new ways to investigate and
Elizabethan and modern piracy, fruitful workshops If you have stories or opinions on such matters, in
i as a service to anyone looking for specialists covering interpret the development of Scottish towns. This conference brings
run by IFAgroups, advances in archaeological particular first hand data from this summer’s
specific periods, subjects and regions, although it together heritage managers and conservation professionals with
sciences, and the important planning issue of the floods, do let me know.
does not constitute any form of accreditation or historians, archaeologists and architectural historians to explore
setting of monuments and how we should value
endorsement. If you would like to be on the list how we might set about understanding our urban heritage. It will
this.
please send the following details to Phil Mills. include cases studies on work at Arbroath, Govan and Raploch, an
Name, Organisational affiliation (or ‘freelance’), interactive guided walk around the historic burgh town of Stirling,
It seems that, when planning themes for this year’s
r Email, Phone no, Address, Specialism, Period, speakers from Ireland and Denmark, and reports on recently
TAs we were quite prescient in including climate
Geographical area, IFAgrade (if any), Three completed work at Linlithgow, Dunfermline, Whithorn and Tain,
change for the winter issue. Not only has that Alison Taylor
publications (references to relevant work, which can and Wigtown and Fraserburgh.
concern moved well up the agenda for government [email protected]
include grey literature as well as formally published
work), Other Information (which you think may be Tickets for the two days cost £28 for AHSS members (£35 for non-
relevant). members and £18 for full-time students) or £18 for a single day.
For more information visit www.ahss.org.uk or contact Dr Susan
o
Dr Phil Mills BSc PhD MIFA, Honorary Visiting Buckham at the AHSS National Office on 0131 557 0019 or
Fellow, School of Archaeology and Ancient History, [email protected]
University of Leicester [email protected].
Archaeological Archives: a new guide
t IFA, on behalf of the Archaeological
Archives Forum, has just published
Archaeological Archives: a guide to best
practice in creation, compilation, transfer
Michael Fulford shows
and curation. Written by Duncan H Brown
archaeologists the real
of Southampton Museums, this is a
thing, at Silchester’s
comprehensive and practical guide to
i Roman amphitheatre.
archaeological archiving for both material
Photograph: Mike Farley
and documentary archives, from project Chanonry (Fortrose) in the 1720s
planning through to final deposition and
Notes to contributors the archive’s subsequent curation.
Themes and deadlines Contributions and letter/emailsare always welcome. It is intended EDITED by Alison Taylor, IFA,
The Guide is available for download in
d New chairman for English Heritage
Winter: Climate change and the to makeTAdigitally available to institutions through the SAL/CBA SHES, University of Reading,
PDF format from the Publications
Lord (Sandy) Bruce-Lockhart took up the job of Chair of EH on
historic environment e-publications initiative. If this raises copyright issues with any Whiteknights, PO Box 227
page of the IFAwebsite, or
1 August, following the retirement of Sir Neil Cossons. He is
deadline: 15 September 2007 authors, artists or photographers, please notify the editor. Short READING RG6 6AB
http://www.archaeologists.net/modules/
currently Chair of the Local Government Association and was the
articles (max. 1000 words) are preferred. They should be sent as an
icontent/inPages/docs/pubs/Archives_
Conservative leader of Kent County Council from 1997 to 2005.
Spring: Training in archaeology email attachment, which must include captions and credits for DESIGNED and TYPESET by
Best_Practice.pdf. Printed copies will be
He has been involved in various local government and public and
deadline: 15 December 2007 illustrations. The editor will edit and shorten if necessary. Illustrations Sue Cawood
sent to all Registered Archaeological
voluntary sector organisations and is currently a trustee of Leeds
are very important. These can be supplied as originals, on CD or as
Organisations. Members who would like
Castle Foundation, chair of Rochester Cathedral Council,
E emails, at a minimum resolution of 500 kb. More detailed Notes for PRINTED by Duffield Printers a printed copy can request one from the
president of Kent Thameside Development Board and trustee for
contributorsfor each issue are available from the editor. Ltd (Leeds)
IFAoffice.
East Malling Trust for Horticultural Research.
Opinions expressed in The Archaeologist are those of the authors,
and are not necessarily those of IFA.
2 The Archaeologist Autumn 2007 Number 65 3
FROM THE FINDS TRAY
Qualification in Archaeological Practice:
A S S E S S O R S N E E D E D
Kate Geary
Society of Antiquaries – Making History for 300 years old
SALis celebrating its tercentenary from September this year with an
The long awaited Qualification in other awarding bodies and is assessed in the same
exhibition of its own antiquities in the Royal Academy (it was
Archaeological Practice was launched way as an NVQ, ie you are assessed as you work
collecting long before the British Museum and so has some strange
with your own NVQ candidates. All assessment
and wonderful artefacts, plus very fine drawings from the 18th at the City of London Marketing Suite
work of trainee assessors is checked and overseen by
century onwards). It is also hosting a series of public lectures on over- on the 25 April 2007 to an audience of
APPAG inquiry into pay and the awarding body. In addition to Assessors, we
arching archaeological themes at different venues around Britain, to archaeologists, training and skills
conditions in archaeology need a network of ‘expert witnesses’ - experienced
which members of IFAwill be welcome. Details are given in the
specialists, trade unionists and (we hope)
The All Party Parliamentary archaeologists who can advise to assessors in
enclosed leaflet, or can be downloaded from www.sal.org.uk.
Archaeology Group report The future assessors and candidates. particularly specialist areas.
Current State of Archaeology in the
United Kingdom (2002) commented The Ribchester helmet, an 18th- As guest speaker, Francis Pryor spoke about the If you are interested in training to become an
forcefully on the‘urgent need to century drawing of one of the finest need for standards in archaeology and the assessor, or in registering as an expert witness,
improve pay and conditions for examples of a cavalry parade importance of training the next generation, and contact Kate Geary. In time, dedicated pages on our
employment in field archaeology’. helmet from Roman Britain, shown called on the sector to support the qualification. website will be created for the Qualification.
Five years on APPAG is aware that ‘as found’ (with corrosion). The real Mike Heyworth, on behalf of the Archaeology
there are initiatives under way to helmet and this drawing will be Training Forum, stressed the importance of the Kate Geary
implement some of its reunited at the Making History qualification as a measure of competence for IFA Training and Standards Co-ordinator
recommendations and intends to exhibition for the first time since amateur as well as professional archaeologists and [email protected]
hold a short inquiry how far these the 18th century. © Society of Kenneth Aitchison, IFAhead of professional 01782 320867
have got. Initially APPAG is seeking Antiquaries of London’ development, described how the new award will
brief written submissions from those work.
taking an active role in seeking to
improve pay and conditions, setting The Qualification in Archaeological Practice results
out what they are doing and how from collaboration between IFA, the Archaeology
they intend to implement any Training Forum and EDI, with support from the Kenneth Aitchison, IFA’s head of
reforms. Submissions of up to 1000 Sector Skills Council. Implementation will involve professional development, explains
words should be sent to Archaeology Labour Market Intelligence: Profiling the Profession training more assessors, ensuring that IFA’s how the new award with work.
[email protected] by 30 2007–08 validation procedures are adapted and promoting Photograph: Natasha Kingham
September 2007. APPAG will then This project, which will again gather comprehensive and up-to-date its value as a professional qualification within the
invite oral evidence at inquiry information about the size and state of archaeology as a profession, has sector and beyond.
hearings during the autumn. After just been launched and will be published in spring 2008. Previous
considering the evidence, APPAG Profiling the Professionprojects were carried out five and ten years ago (see IFAmust now build a network of assessors across
will produce a report making http://www.archaeologists.net/modules/icontent/index.php?page=34), the UK. As well as training our own staff, assessors
targeted recommendations, and may and so will again give us a snapshot of archaeology at this point in time may work on a freelance basis or for organisations
organise debates in Parliament. In September, the project will send questionnaires to all archaeological acting as satellite centres. Assessors, or their
employing organisations, will receive a fee per
employers and self-employed archaeologists in the UK. Individual
candidate for this work. Assessors must be
archaeologists are asked to please support their employers in completing
occupationally competent in the areas they are
the questionnaires as fully and accurately as possible. Individual, self-
assessing – including working in that area for at
employed archaeologists (such as specialists) are particularly encouraged
least two years within the last five. Assessors must
to email Rachel Edwards at [email protected] with their contact
also have, or be working towards, the ‘A1’
details to ensure that they are on the mailing list to receive questionnaires.
assessors’ qualification, which is offered by EDI and
Kenneth Aitchison
IFAHead of Professional Development
4 The Archaeologist Autumn 2007 Number 65 5
£
E
T
Registered Archaeological OrganAisations Improving
D
P
U
archaeologists’
Beth Asbury
pay
Kate Geary
IFA now has 55 RAOs, up from 51 in January 2006, pay and conditions of employment. These will
with two more applications being assessed. Since complement the new IFAscheme, as will BAJR’s
January 2006 seventeen inspections have been initiative, the IFAsalary benchmarking exercise
carried out, eighty recommendations for improvement (p7) and the Diggers Forum campaign for a living
made and four conditions of registration imposed, all wage.
aimed at raising standards of archaeology and of staff This year, the working group will identify
welfare staff. Three RAOs are hosting HLF workplace For the RAO scheme to maintain its quality archaeological posts to use as comparators, and
bursaries and seven more have shown interest. These assurance value, those who commission RAOs must gather data on salaries and entry requirements for
have proved to be invaluable projects and we hope to be assured that any allegations of professional them. These ‘benchmark’ posts will be assessed
increase the numbers of RAOs involved in the future. misconduct will be investigated under a formal using job evaluation techniques so that they can be
complaints procedure. RAOs are subject to sanctions compared objectively to similar posts in other
Minimum employment package if they fail to comply with the scheme and in serious In April 2007, as described by Beth Asbury (p6), professions. The sectors currently being considered
In November 2005 we asked RAOs to consider the cases can be removed from the Register. Two such IFAintroduced an expanded set of minimum pay as comparable are engineering, planning,
implications of changes to the IFArecommended cases have been investigated since January 2006. In recommendations, recognising the fact that pay is environmental management, other areas of the
pay minima to include a package of employment both cases, which involved financial disputes, only one part of the total employment package and heritage sector, surveying and architecture, although
benefits. Incorporating suggestions, this new investigating panels found in favour of the RAOs setting minimum standards for working time, others may be suggested along the way. Information
scheme came into effect on 1 April and is binding on after contractual documents and correspondence holiday and sick pay, and employer pension from this comparison will inform future revisions to
all RAOs. As a minimum, an employment package were scrutinised. Two further complaints are contributions. The new pay minima, which are the IFAminimum salaries. If, as we suspect, the
must now contain currently being investigated. binding on RAOs, are an important step but are still results indicate that archaeologists’ qualifications
based on minimum salary levels which do not and skills are not being reflected accurately in their
1 6% employer pension contribution subject to any Looking ahead compare well with other professions. In order to pay, significant increases in IFAminimum salary
reasonable qualifying period Application forms and guidance notes are raise minimum pay levels, a robust methodology is levels will be subject to extensive consultation and
constantly updated, and a new easy reference needed to allow reliable comparisons to be drawn staged over a number of years.
2 average 37.5 hour working week format has been used in the 2007 Yearbookfor listing with salaries in related professions, leading to pay
services offered by our RAOs. The scheme itself is minima which reflect more accurately the The timetable is to complete data gathering this
3 paid annual leave of at least 20 days plus continuously reviewed to make it more applicable qualifications, skills and experience of professional summer and analysis in September, with the aim
statutory holidays to solely curatorial, academic or avocational bodies, archaeologists. of reporting preliminary results at the IFAAGM on
as well as bringing in more commercial 1 October. Other initiatives on pay and conditions,
4 sick leave allowance of at least 1 month on full organisations that have achieved necessary In order to move this issue forward IFAhas such as the Diggers Forum Campaign for a Living
pay subject to any reasonable qualifying period standards. Ajoint statement with ALGAO was sent employed a consultant to facilitate the process of Wage, SCAUM’s recently published statement of
out to curatorial groups promoting the benefits of ‘benchmarking’ archaeological salaries against those good practice and the revised BAJR pay levels are
Any shortfall in the above increases the minimum registration. in other industries. Frank Price is an experienced increasingly putting pressure on the archaeological
salary requirement, although betterment of the human resources consultant with a background sector to deal with the issue of pay. Although there
stated terms does not justify a reduction in basic For more information about the scheme and the advising on job evaluation schemes (amongst other are many factors contributing to low pay, we are
RR AA OO
pay. The amended scheme will be kept under procedures for joining, please consult the RAO page things) at the conciliation service ACAS. He will confident that real progress will have been made
review and its operational impact monitored. In of the IFAwebsite, or contact Beth Asbury. oversee the process and provide independent expert before the 2008/9 pay minima are announced next
support, we reworded Principle 5.5 of the Code of advice to a Project Advisory Board and Working year.
conductso that action may be taken against Beth Asbury Group comprising representatives of a cross section
individual IFAmembers (as opposed to RAOs) [email protected] of interests including the IFARAO and Working Kate Geary
paying less than this. This was agreed at the 2006 0118 3786446 Practices committees and Finds Group, SCAUM, IFA training and standards co-ordinator
AGM. SCAUM is also in the process of preparing Prospect, BAJR and the Diggers Forum. [email protected]
good practice guidelines for its members, covering
6 The Archaeologist Autumn 2007 Number 65 7
O Excavating human remains:
latest (but still
interim) guidance
Alison Taylor
In May 2007, the Ministry of Justice (having Where there is uncertainty, archaeologists should
O u t r e a c h t o
taken over this responsibility from the Home ask MoJ for advice in good time.
Office) decided that the Burial Act 1857 and
However, there are still a number of problems and
d e v e l o p e r s : the Disused Burial Grounds (Amendment)
uncertainties, such as
Act 1981 (under which archaeologists were
expected to apply for licences) should not ♦ MoJ has drawn attention to the possibility of
advice available
have been applied to burial grounds which prosecution for offering indignity to the remains
of the dead – a common law offence set out in a
had passed into different use, and they are no
140-year-old judgement and not, as far as known,
Blair Poole Archaeologists can feel unwelcome on longer able to issue licenses for these sites.
Post excavation analysis as ever tested by case law. It is very unlikely a
construction sites, in part because part of a developer-funded Their letters recommended that archaeologists prosecution would succeed if an archaeologist
developers may not understand what is project. Photograph: B Poole seek legal advice (an advice note would have was excavating in response to a PPG-16
required to satisfy planning conditions, been more helpful – lawyers would find it requirement, and treating remains respectfully as
compounded by not understanding hard to give clear advice at the moment). set out in relevant guidance, but the possibility is
one that archaeologists are reasonably concerned
what archaeologists actually do. It is
evaluation as data gathering to aid the design about.
important therefore that we communicate, After some weeks of confusion English Heritage,
strategy and give curators enough information to
amongst other things, the extent of post- urged on by IFAand many archaeological ♦ MoJ has indicated that where the two Acts do
advise the planning department is integral to the
organisations who found themselves in the front apply, they must require reburial of excavated
excavation work that is essential.
presentations. Specialist analysis, reporting and
line, held discussions with MoJ that resulted in an human remains within a reasonably rapid
archiving are addressed to show that site work is
interim advice note. As this says, it appears that timescale. This may not allow sufficient time for
only a small percentage of what we actually do. By
proper study for large and important sites, nor
L– P: Archaeology offers a range of services communicating the importance and scale of post-
♦ for excavations of burial grounds which have retention of important assemblages. EH are
including consultancy, field work and post excavation work developers feel more aware of
passed into other use, neither Act applies and working to try to address this problem with MoJ.
excavation analysis. One of our additional services what we do and more involved in the process.
therefore no applications and licenses are required
is a CPD programme for other professionals in the
Although there are still uncertainties, and the
property industry. Short presentations are given for Has it worked? The presentations have been a ♦ for burials in churchyards and other burial
changes may be more restrictive in a few cases,
free and longer courses are offered at an hourly success with developers, who begin to ask more grounds under ecclesiastical jurisdiction, the
many sites will lose red tape. Removal of
rate. Funding for the time spent on this comes from relevant questions regarding archaeology and how Burial Act 1857 still applies and faculties and
impediments to retention of human remains from
an existing outreach budget with the free they can improve their project designs. They take licenses should be applied for as in the past
these sites for future examination is welcomed.
presentations viewed as an investment. away an idea of the scale of post-excavation works (license applications to MoJ)
Also, when human remains are encountered
and are more inclined to include funding in their
♦ in disused burial grounds which have not passed unexpectedly it should no longer be necessary to
Members of our staff visit developers’ offices to budget. Relations with these developers have
into other use and are still set aside as burial stop and ask for a section 25 licence: if the pre-
present an in-depth view of the role of archaeology become easier, facilitating better planning on
grounds, the Disused Burial Grounds excavation evaluation was done properly, it is likely
in the planning process, inviting quantity surveyors, everyone’s part, and site managers in particular can
(Amendment) Act 1981 applies (applications to that neither Act applies and that all you need to do
project managers and site managers etc to develop a scheme of works to allow for
the MoJ for “directions” under that Act. is think about informing the police.
presentations, opening dialogue, informing each archaeology.
Remember to leave plenty of time for public
other of our various requirements and discussing
advertisements). Alison Taylor
the role of heritage within the planning process. We More information can be found on L– P:
engage the developer with a sense of the Archaeology’s website, www.lparchaeology.com.
significance and finite nature of our shared heritage, Please contact us if you might be interested in this
and discuss legislation and both statutory and non- free service. General guidance
statutory policies. We introduce MAP2, and stress Brickley M and McKinley JI 2004. Guidelines to the standards for recording human remains . IFA Paper No 7
the importance of good relations with curators. Blair Poole (http://www.archaeologists.net/modules/icontent/inPages/docs/pubs/humanremains.pdf)
L – P : Archaeology
We discuss the various forms of archaeological Unit S9D, Chester Enterprise Centre Guidance for best practice for treatment of human remains excavated from Christian burial grounds in England. Church of England
investigation, stressing the difference between pre- Hoole Bridge, Chester CH2 3NE and English Heritage 2005
determination investigations and those that are part 01244 313100 (http://www.helm.org.uk/upload/pdf/Guidance_for_best_practice_for_treatment_of_human_remains_excavated_from_Christian_burial_
of planning conditions. Developers can confuse [email protected] grounds_in_England.pdf)
evaluation and excavation, leading to surprise when
evaluation leads to excavation. Clarifying Guidance for the care of human remains in museums. DCMS 2005 (http://www.culture.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/0017476B-3B86-46F3-
BAB3-11E5A5F7F0A1/0/GuidanceHumanRemains11Oct.pdf)
8 The Archaeologist Autumn 2007 Number 65 9
N e w
Following the Heritage White Paper’s proposal to
make it a statutory requirement for local authorities
A n n u a l
G u i d a n c e to have access to a Historic Environment Record
(HER) it was timely that June saw publication of a THE
new edition of Informing the Future of the Past, which
f o r had first been published in 2000 by English C o n f e r e n c e
Heritage. This second edition is the result of a
partnership of English Heritage, Historic Scotland,
H E R s
RCAHMS, RCAHMW, Cadw, ALGAO UK and
F O R A R C H A E O L O G I S T S
ADS. This edition is an entirely digital publication
and completely free. For each chapter there is an
Martin Newman HTMLpage and a pdf file so if you want you can
R E A D I N G
download and print the sections that interest you
and bind them to create a hard copy version.
At over 300 pages with 69 illustrations (mostly full
2 0 0 7
colour), 13 panels and 54 separate contributors this
edition constitutes a major revision and expansion
from the original, covering the latest developments
in what is now a dynamic sector (as demonstrated
by the session on HERs at the IFAconference in
Winchester in 2005). It is also illustrated with
numerous case studies showing how the challenges
facing HERs have been addressed across Britain. A record number of delegates attended IFA’s three-
Designed to assist those who manage and work in day conference in Reading this year. There was an
HERs the Guidelines will also be useful to anyone
excellent range of exhibitions, several social events,
who uses their services or contributes information
to them. They will also be of interest to anyone workshops organised by IFA Groups, trips out to
studying Cultural Resource Management or
heritage information systems as they provide an see Silchester guided by Michael Fulford and
introduction to HERs as well as setting out agreed
around Reading led by Adam Sowan and of course
guidelines for working practices in all aspects of
HER management.
a full programme of lectures, in three parallel
The guidelines were formally launched as part of sessions, some of which are represented by papers
the summer HER Forum meeting at Peterborough
in this issue of TTAA.. The full text of several papers
Museum on the 27 June by Stuart Jeffrey from the
ADS on behalf of the Steering Committee.
can be downloaded on the Conference pages of
Informing the Future of the Past: Guidelines for the IFA website. We are immensely grateful to all
Historic Environment Recordsedited by Paul Gilman
our session organisers and speakers, and also to
and Martin Newman is available online at
www.ifp-plus.info.
our sponsors, acknowledged on this page.
Martin Newman Without their support we could never
English Heritage
[email protected] put on an event on this scale.
10 The Archaeologist Autumn 2007 Number 65 11
R E A D I N G R E A D I N G
of extraordinary success, it now needs to arm itself to promote professionalism via CPD, ethical codes,
meet the changes and challenges ahead.’ accreditation schemes and relations with
government. Her observations on such matters and
2 0 0 7 2 0 0 7
GRASPING WIDER TRENDS Council’s discussions are setting the agenda for the
Seán O’Reilly, Director of IHBC, gave a future of your institute, of which more in future
presentation on ‘Scotch conservation tomorrow’ and editions of TA.
argued that in an ideal world we would do just that
V I S I O N S FOR – get rid of conservation as a separate discipline – The texts of papers by Simon Thurley, Peter Hinton, Modern futures techniques have been used for S
on the basis that ‘conservation within a discipline Anne Locke and Christina Williams can be around fifty years. Importantly, they cannot predict
THE F U T U R E only reflects the average standard that that downloaded from the IFAwebsite (Conference page). what will actually happen, and they become less
E
discipline should adopt’. He also argued that there reliable beyond a decade or two, but they can help
are key differences between the approaches and Peter Hinton organisations to plan by presenting a plausible
Peter Hinton and Anne Locke
philosophies of archaeologists and others involved Chief Executive, IFA range of scenariosbuilt up from current observations
R
in conservation of the historic environment, [email protected] about trends and ‘drivers’ influencing the present.
S including corporate structures, the role of aesthetics, Typically, scenarios are developed for three or four
In 2006 the conference included a session responding the value placed on records/education, and possible versions of the future, based on different
FUTURES
USING
to major structural and political shifts affecting our epistemological approaches. combinations of outcomes for a couple of key areas U
approaches to the historic environment today. We of uncertainty.
TECHNIQUES
N recognised that our profession needs to discuss the BIG IMPACTS
strategic and long-term implications of these changes For IFAI indulged in a review of the possible My presentation outlined two sets of scenarios I had
and how they affect the intellectual, philosophical impacts of technology, global warming, the shifting Anne Locke devised. For the civil servants the main uncertainties T
and physical framework in which we work. Different focus of world economy, and changes to health, over the next fifteen years or so were technology
constituencies have different insights: last year mortality and reproduction, social perceptions of My paper looked at ways the heritage sector may be take-up and social and cultural engagement: for the
speakers from the national heritage bodies address travel and work, domestic political structure, and able to identify shared areas of concern or gaps in archaeologists they were social and economic
O U
these issues from their personal perspectives (see mass global migration. I proposed that in its review knowledge, and to highlight action needed, now inequality and social liberalism and tolerance. Some
TA61). In 2007 it was the turn of the professional of its strategic plan IFAshould through exercises in futures techniques. aspects may sound quirky or far-fetched, but they
associations, which face particular challenges over • plan for unlikely events with big impacts are useful for exploring fundamental questions for a
the next few years if they are to fulfil their • back Heritage Protection Reform to the hilt To manage the historic environment for future sector or organisation such as
F
responsibilities and the expectations of their • find archaeological applications for new generations heritage professionals need a vision of • where do we think we will be in x years’ time?
memberships, government and its advisors. technologies what those generations might want: research • where would we liketo be, and what can we do
I
• get heritage in the Olympics material, recreational and educational access, a sense to help get there?
‘NO MONEY – NO SUPPORT’ • prepare its position on heritage and energy efficiency of place and identity? My paper suggested there were • where would we notlike to be, and what can we
Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage • be alert for projects required by rising seas, differences between the way archaeological heritage do to avoid ending up there instead?
S
(and MIFA1814) gave the opening address. He changing ecosystems and a shift from suburbia to professionals and civil servants working on related
introduced the Heritage Protection White Paper, rural or city-centre living subjects see the main influences, and introduced I am now working as a freelance archaeologist and
setting out its provisions and emphasising the • make sure government understands our needs techniques used in government to look at the future. part-time civil servant, and am keen to build on my
importance of local authority services in making the and contribution futures work with archaeology and heritage Archaeologists
I
system work, and of IFAand IHBC in setting • get heritage on all feasible political agenda Last year I combined work on future trends for organisations. Please contact me if you would like a between sessions
standards. He was candid too about the importance • campaign for local authority historic DCMS with an MAat the Institute of Archaeology, copy of Future Past. at IFA’s Reading
V of proper resourcing, and stressed that English environment services UCL. My MAdissertation Future Pastcompared the Conference.
Heritage’s support for government’s proposals was • anticipate new patterns of working and views of 28 archaeological managers with those of Anne Locke Photograph: Higher
conditional on adequate funding. ‘No money – no volunteering and encourage more participation civil servants working with culture, media and 01273 475381 View Aerial
support’. On the cuts to English Heritage’s budget – • anticipate massive population and cultural shifts sport. Archaeologists saw a need for more joined-up [email protected] Photography
an issue on which the IFAhas lobbied repeatedly – he • market research what people feel is heritage (all working and better leadership within the historic
explained why the Historic Environment Enabling sectors, and overseas) environment professions but few mentioned social
Programme budget had had to be cut. ‘We have had • identify those heritages we have ignored developments like the ageing population or
to reduce the HEEPbudget by £500k and our • join up the sector – properly – while building inequalities in society. While both groups thought
buildings grants by £1m. I hope that this will be partnerships with other built and natural environmental, technological and economic issues
temporary. Four years ago we were forced to dip into environment professions. would be important, heritage people were more
our grants budgets and then reinstated them. That is uncertain about the prospects for liberalism and
our intention this time.’ Finally he looked to a future Debate on unification of the historic environment tolerance. The differences suggest that the
with better training, compulsory CPD for professional sector, and particularly of its professional bodies, archaeological sector would raise its profile with
institute members and with a modernised Planning was informed by a contribution from Christina government by demonstrating its grasp of wider
Policy Statement covering archaeology. ‘I want to see Williamsof the Professional Associations Research trends and seeking opportunities to become
what we have better protected, better funded, better Network (PARN). She focused on the PARN 2006 involved in current external debates on social issues,
understood and better enjoyed. In making that ‘Professionalisation of Professional Associations’ UK for example ‘cultural value’, well being/quality of
happen IFAhas a crucial role. It has enjoyed 25 years survey and summarised how professional bodies life, identity and citizenship.
12 The Archaeologist Autumn 2007 Number 65 13
R E A D I N G R E A D I N G
within archaeological writing. The first extract is by
Mark Edmonds, from Ancestral Geographies of the
Neolithic(1999) where the chapters, written in an
2 0 0 7 2 0 0 7
academic style, are broken up with short imagined
pieces set in the Neolithic.
The old man leaned forward and spat into the fire.
WRITING
the language I had, not from a list. Later, I was He took a twist of dried meat from the bag at his memorable, and we nod when we read it in
introduced to the context sheet, with its side and drew his shoulders in towards the heat, a recognition of knowing people like that, because
A R C H A E O L O G Y
standardised fields, and to the spurious search for little further from the snow outside. ‘This is how what shines through the fiction is the truth. This
objectivity. The space for interpretation on the it is.’He leaned back into the easy squat he had piece also shows that we are interested in ourselves.
AND WRITING N
context sheet got smaller and often it was left blank held for much of the evening. Others sat close by, We – archaeologists, visitors, developers, contractors
F I C T I O N – interpretation became something to be done later. hands working back and forth unnoticed across – are the characters that inhabit the site. Other
Archaeological language was sometimes further hide and wood. Where the shadows met the wall, people want to meet us on open days and watch us
impoverished through translation into code or the older children listened absentmindedly, working, or come to work with us at weekends –
David Wilkinson
‘keywords’ for a computer. Excavators, whose familiar with the path the tale would take. (p.11) they practically want to be us. When they can’t
written ‘voice’ had been diminished by all of this, actually experience excavation, they want to O
came to be seen as technicians, which did nothing Edmonds’ characters feel a little abstract, partly experience stories which have archaeology and
In 2003, after more than twenty years of working in for our pay, conditions or self-esteem. because they lack names, but his work is important archaeologists in them, a formula which has been
archaeology, I took a year out to study for an MLitt – he recognises that ‘the study of the past is an act of successful for Time Team.
in Creative Writing at St Andrews. It was a great The wheel of archaeological process is like the the imagination, bound by convention and by
experience and I found myself re-thinking both my wheel of an ancient site caravan – rusty, mud-caked, evidence, but creative nonetheless.’ The tea hut may now be a portacabin, the donkey
fiction writing and archaeology; hence this paper. even punctured, and yet it turns. There is now a jacket has been replaced by the hivi jacket, and the I
move back to allowing excavators to write what My other examples are taken from The Early Meso- Elsan has given way to the portaloo, but the story
LANGUAGE AND VOICE they think and imagine as, for example, on American Villageby Kent Flannery (1976). Flannery goes on. I can’t remember which pits I dug at
Seamus Heaney has twice described Bann Clay: in Framework Archaeology’s Heathrow Terminal 5 interspersed conventional archaeological papers Winnall Down in 1977, but I can remember what T
a poem of that name in Door into the Dark(1969) excavations (Barratt 2006, 15). I think of it as writing with vignettes featuring three characters - the Great happened at the dig hostel on the night the digger
outwards and upwards – writing not just about the Synthesiser (GS), The Real Meso-American driver presented us with a barrel of scrumpy. We all
Slabs like the squared off clots posthole you have dug, but the other postholes in Archaeologist (RMA), and the Sceptical Graduate sit in portacabins, in offices, in vans, in pubs or
Of a blue cream. Sunk your area and in surrounding areas, and (upwards) Student (SGS). round fires, and we tell stories about characters. We C
for centuries under grass. about the posts that once stood in them, and even have a great time and drink too much and what do
about the people who put the posts up. While the waiter filled our order, RMAdrew on we do the next morning? We get up and go to our
and in To a Dutch Potter in Ireland, (from The Spirit Archaeologists are getting their voice back. a paper napkin the outline of the Rio San Jacinto offices and we write, ‘In Phase 1 ditch 761 was recut
G Level, 1996). drainage and the pattern of sites he had found (794) along part of its length.’
CHARACTER AND STORY so far. Reaching the end of the paper, he I
Until I found Bann clay. Like wet daylight I find that when writing fiction I often start with concluded, ‘and to the south, it looks as if there Surely, we can do better.
or viscous satin under the felt and frieze place, with landscape; after all, place is what were no more Formative sites - just early
N Of humus layers. The true diatomite archaeologists always have. I have had to learn how Classic, and some small post-Classic sites.’ David Wilkinson F
also to start with people, with characters. But what Oxford Archaeology
Discovered in a little sucky hole, of characters in archaeological writing? Asite report Near his elbow the SGS quickly added, ‘but [email protected]
Grey-blue, dull-shining, scentless, touchable – will typically only contain some names (authors and we can’t be sure, because our sample of sites is
Like the earth’s old ointment box, sticky and cool. those acknowledged) while people from the past inadequate and our survey so far has been
I
may actually be excluded through the chosen haphazard and unsystematic.’ Barratt, J 2006 ‘Academic aim and approach, in
He calls it‘touchable’, inviting us to touch the language, eg, in Phase 2, Pit 735 was backfilled with Framework Archaeology’, in Framework
T
‘viscous satin’, and we feel that we almost could. clay. The first major publication by Framework Now, short of calling his attention to a whole Archaeology, Landscape Evolution in the Middle
Here is a different description Archaeology, where the research design explicitly projectile point on his backdirt pile, there is Thames Valley, Heathrow Terminal 5 Excavations
sought ‘the practical ways in which people probably no easier way to make an RMAangry Volume 1, Perry Oaks, Framework Archaeology
I Very compact, Blueish-grey to white, 10YR / 8/1, established their presence in the material, social and than by telling him his survey techniques are Monograph No. 1, pp.15-17
pliable, clay 90% silt 10%, 35–17 cm, probably political conditions of their day’ (Barratt, 2006, 15) inadequate. In fact, RMAis still overheated
R natural. does include people in its interpretation, albeit at a from having read Binford’s 1964 article ‘A Lewis, J and Brown, F 2006 ‘Hunter-gatherers and
generic level, eg ‘a loose association of kin-groups consideration of archaeological research design.’ first farmers: the Mesolithic wildwood to the end
Where Heaney’s description gives us great richness chose to become a cohesive community in response (p. 133) of the monumental landscape of the Neolithic
of language what we have here is, surely, poverty. It to growing concerns of access to land and (10,000BC-1700BC)’, in Framework Archaeology,
W
is worth looking briefly at how we arrived at this. resources.’ (Lewis and Brown, 2006, 80). The characters (except Binford) still have Landscape Evolution in the Middle Thames Valley,
On my early excavations I was given a notebook in representative titles instead of names, but they are Heathrow Terminal 5 Excavations Volume 1, Perry
which to write not just the descriptions of what we For characters, however, I have had to turn to the vivid, and the characters are us, the people who do Oaks, Framework Archaeology Monograph No. 1,
found, but also what I thought. And I chose from limited examples where fiction has been used the archaeology. The writing is funny and pp. 27-92
14 The Archaeologist Autumn 2007 Number 65 15
R E A D I N G R E A D I N G
2 0 0 7 2 0 0 7
T R A I N I N G :
Successful training
– Foxy Demeanour,
F U T U R E
INVESTMENT IN OUR centre, has just
completed her
Chris Clarke and the Diggers Forum workplace training
and is now finds
environmental
supervisor for EH
at Silbury Hill
Students learning and training needs, identifying sources of funding,
plan drawing at encouraging improvement of training provisions,
Cladh Aindreis, and developing exemplar training projects. Also,
Swordle Bay, through the RAO scheme, IFAmonitors training
GArdnamurchan. provisions provided by commercial organisations.
Photograph: At the core of the standards and guidance
Hannah Lawson associated with training, IFAdeveloped National
Occupation Standards (NOS) which define the skills
a competent person needs in order to undertake
their job role. These standards underpin IFA’s HLF
N
Workplace Learning Bursaries and the English
E
Heritage-funded EPPIC placement schemes (p18).
The most recent application of the NOS has been as
part of the NVQ qualification in archaeological considering issues of employability. archaeology and then developed a strategy to meet
R
practice (p5). the sector’s training needs, including the
Chris Perryand Rachel Bennett(Prospect) development of NOS for archaeological practice.
I
Decent pay may be a holy grail for the
Hannah Cobb(University of Manchester) and Phil described the services their trade union provided to With the NOS forming a firm foundation, much has
archeological profession but training should Richardson(CFAArchaeology/University of members. They highlighted plans to improve the been built upon its framework, such as the IFA U
not be underestimated as a route to Newcastle) concentrated on archaeological training pay and conditions of archaeologists across the workplace training bursaries and recent launch of
N
advancement. Parallel industries such as provisions within degree courses, highlighting the country, which frequently involves employer pay archaeological NVQs.
wide variations that occur. As an example of bargaining and contractual negotiations. With closer
engineering and architecture prove this is a
theoretical and practical training occurring side by liaison with industry bodies such as the Diggers Natalie Kershaw(Archpeople Recruitment) T
powerful tool. Individuals with a wider skill
side, the speakers used the Ardnamurchan Forum, IFAand BAJR, much more can hopefully be identified current practices in archaeology in terms
set get promotion, expect a wage rise, and
Transitions Project at the Neolithic chambered tomb achieved. They also focused on the role of Union of recruiting and training, with a view on what will
I impress potential employers. of Cladh Aindreis in western Scotland as a case Learning Reps (ULRs) and how they can assist happen if these practices do not change. Many U
study. The project explored the nature of the archaeologists to gain greater access to training. In archaeologists are not aware of employment issues
Following the success of the Diggers Forum Mesolithic/Neolithic transition in the area, and less their basic role ULRs promote training and that dominate across the country; there was little
A session at last year’s conference, the Forum focused conventional training techniques were used development while supporting individuals and awareness of training opportunities that are
this session on the issue of training within the alongside traditional ones to great effect. Academics identifying sources of learning. This can often lead available and no clear understanding of who to ask,
F
industry. The subject has been rising up the agenda and practising field archaeologists together to additional training sources becoming available, a where to go, or what subjects there were available.
of many organisations over recent years, but what enhanced student training, with a key aim being to higher profile for training on company agenda, and Organisations need to communicate these issues in
changes have been occurring on the ground? This transform student attitudes towards the integration independent confidential sources of advice in the terms of their professional and financial
R session looked at who was developing issues of of theory and practice. Students were allowed to workplace. development, and should add the possibility of
training, the initiatives promoted, and the results transform themselves through developing self- business training to provide a proper explanation of
produced. reflexive aspects of the excavation process. Taking Mike Heyworth, on behalf of theArchaeological archaeology as a business.
advantage of the relatively small team and high Training Forum, discussed the work of ATF,
Kate Geary(IFA) looked at the relationship between staff/student ratios, the excavation invited students demonstrating how it was enhancing training and Chris Clarke
T
the IFAand training, initially highlighting where the to develop key interests, take responsibility for personal development opportunities. He reviewed Hon Chair, Diggers Forum
IFA’s role, remit and responsibilities lie in relation to excavation and interpretation and to reflect upon its history since its establishment in 1988, how it [email protected]
professional archaeologists. IFAtakes several transferable skills they were gaining whilst directly initially reviewed provision of training in
approaches which include identifying skills gaps
16 The Archaeologist Autumn 2007 Number 65 17