CALL FOR PAPERS – Deadline has been extended to the 23rd May 2010
Please find below a call for papers for the session ‘The post-excavation process – seeking european best practice” at the European Association of Archaeologists conference in the Hague, Netherlands on 1-5 September, 2010
Session Title: The post-excavation process – seeking European best practice
Organisers: Virágos Gábor and Rónán Swan
The aim of this session is to stimulate a debate about the post excavation history of the finds and documentation/archive in different European countries and in both the academic and commercial sectors. It is hoped that discussion will follow on the general state policy, the official legislation, the accessible infrastructure and the available resources, especially the human resources. Some of the issues to be explored are:
The types and phases of the post-excavation process (e.g. conservation and inventory of artefacts, and environmental samples, the management of the archaeological archive, digitisation, GIS, storage, dissemination, and publication)
The legal, academic or commercial limitations as to who may (or must) carry out the postexcavation works? What are the expectations of the different stakeholders e.g. archaeologists, academic, commercial, and general public?
The published archaeological standards and to what extent are they implemented. Do such standards lead to a consistent approach? Do standards automatically provide for (or ensure) quality?
How are post-excavation services funded? How is it procured? Do such procedures encourage best practice?
The ownership of the finds and the disposal of documentation/archive (by the state, local community, NGO, private company, landowner, citizen, or the excavator archaeologist) -legislation, licensing, practice, etc.; moreover, what does it mean to own archaeological finds at all?
The system and conditions of storing finds right after finishing the excavation, and later, after finishing the post-excavation process; it is obviously connected to the ownership, but thisconnection is not necessarily a direct one.
The extent to which the information gathered from past archaeological projects (commercial or research) are being used in future projects – essentially the extent to which archaeological knowledge is being applied.
Presentations are welcome, which address the post-excavation process whether in theory or practice. However especially welcome are presentations which discuss how practice conforms to respective legislative policies, and consequently explore the notion of best practice.
It is hoped that as a result of this session, these papers will be published with an overarching discussion paper drawing together the key themes, for consideration by the EAA.
Please submit abstracts (300 words) to the EAA online system http://www.congrex-events.nl/?pid=179 by the 23rd of May. http://www.eaa2010.nl/.
Dr. Virágos Gábor, Director General, Field Service of Cultural Heritage, www.kosz.gov.hu
Rónán Swan, Head of Archaeology(a.), National Roads Authority, www.nra.ie/Archaeology