Session: #370

Theme & Session Format

Theme:
Theories and methods in archaeological sciences
Session format:
Session, made up of a combination of papers, max. 15 minutes each

Title & Content

Title:
Artefact reporting, science and selection
Content:
Artefacts represent the origins of archaeology and artefact reporting remains crucial to our scientific reasoning, but among the many exciting new methods in archaeological fieldwork, are finds taken for granted? Recent studies show that even where standards for reporting exist they are not commonly applied. This session will examine the quality of artefact studies across Europe, comparing methodologies and systems of practice against our expectations, assumptions and theories. What is the future of artefact analysis and reporting?
We aim to instigate discussion of finds selection and documentation for permanent storage. In a world where archaeologists are under pressure to reduce the amount of material collected for curation, we have to ask whether current standards of analysis are good enough to permit the de-selection of finds for archive.
We invite speakers to consider the application of standards and the quality of finds analysis and reporting in their own countries. Are some artefacts treated more reverently than others and what might discrimination depend on; chronology, function, rarity? Is analysis good enough to allow the use of archived finds in future research? Does the application of scientific techniques ensure consistency and reliability in finds work? Further areas are frameworks for finds analysis and the responsibilities of freelance specialists and those who employ them. Also welcome are papers that examine this apparent disconnection between the aim of artefact reporting–integrating new data into our interpretations of the past–and actual practice, alongside the overall Theme of contemporary debates around the future of archaeological practice.
Keywords:
Artefact studies, reporting, methodology
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
yes
Session associated with SAfA:
no

Organisers

Main organiser:
Duncan Brown (United Kingdom) 1
Co-organisers:
Dr Barbara Gumbert (Netherlands) 2
Affiliations:
1. Historic England
2. Erfgoed Leiden en Omstreken