Value and values in excavation recording
Martin LocockSenior Project Officer, Strata Florida Heritage
Landscape Tourism Project
Two observations
• Site tour – selective, opinionated, allusive, individual, speculative
• Archive – objective, structured, standardised, consistent
© Copyright Bob Embleton and licensed for reuse
Two observations
• Site tour – selective, opinionated, allusive, individual, speculative = interesting
• Archive – objective, structured, standardised, consistent = boring
• Significance and meaning
© Copyright Bob Embleton and licensed for reuse
Archaeological practice
Interesting/ useful not necessary
Interesting / useful + necessary
Not interesting / useful but necessary
Not interesting / useful and not necessary
Philosophy of recording
• Logical positivism – Measurability– Objectivity– Consistency
• Reflexive methodologies– Construction of knowledge– Surfacing assumptions and debating ideas– Embracing subjectivity
Philosophy of recording
T5 Heathrow“production of a coherent and empirically
validated site narrative remains the fundamental objective of the excavation ” John Barrett
Interpretation during excavationEntities not contextsStaff uncomfortable
UDAS
Philosophy of recording
• Single interpretation
• Recorder as surrogate for director/reader
• Value = report/archive
• Memories/experience?
• Reification of commercial practice
Lean management• Mapping work processes
• Creation of value
• Reduction of waste
• Maintenance
• Continuous improvement
Effort
• Excavation / recording £1000/dayRecording
Excavation
Admin
Value
Recording
Excavation
Admin
Excavation process
Source: S Roskams 2001 Stratigraphy
Excavation process
Source: S Roskams 2001 Stratigraphy
Excavation process
Source: S Roskams 2001 Stratigraphy
Interpretation?
Recording
• Photography
• Drawing
© Copyright Andrew Curtis and licensed for reuse
Context recording
• Administration and relationships
• Description (structured)• Description (free)• Interpretation
Context recording
• Administration and relationships
• Description (structured)• Description (free)• Interpretation
Context recording
• Administration and relationships
• Description (structured)• Description (free)• Interpretation
Interpretation?
Notebook
• Meta-narrative
• High-level interpretation
• Watching briefs
• (allowed?)
• Whose interpretation?
The future
• Work that creates no value
• Work that creates limited value
• Work that creates value
• Empowerment of the primary recorder
• Engagement with process and content
• Data or meaning
ThanksP J Carne, UDAS
John Lewis, Society of Antiquaries Andrew Marvell, GGATQuentin Drew UWTSD
Martin Locock
10simplesteps.blogspot.com