Oh, the world of archaeology is SO glamorous today. I'm sitting here (handwriting post to write later) watching a guy peck out concrete. Have to wait until he gets to the 17th century foundation wall which is much easier to peck out, but equally as dull to watch.
Ever since the mid-1990s when archaeology became developer-funded, ithas tended to focus on road schemes and small little holes or service trenches. The client (often a developer) is, of course, only willing to pay for what he will be digging, so what you get is strips of archaeology running across the countryside the width of a carriageway, or keyhole gimpses into the past in a pile trench for a brand new office block. I once spent 8 months watching a 36 degree excavator strip off topsoil for a gas pipeline for miles and miles, just because it was asjacent to the Antonine Wall and the council required it. Didn't find a thing.
I think that was the nail in the coffin as far as I concerned, so several years ago I turned my attention to buildings - at least you know there is soething there at least! But I do miss archaeology, cleaning features back with a trowel, a 6H pencil on permatrace, the whiff of a permanent marker on a finds bag. So I am resolved to find some digs with a clear research agenda where archaeology actually exists! I'm looking forward to Olivers Mount.
Well, at least I am out of the office today - waiting for the skip to be emties, but at least there is a post-medieval wall to see, so I'd better take a few photos.
'Damn, I forgot my context sheets...now how am I going to defeat the Nazis?'
2007-06-21 @ 20:32