>>
>In the UK there are increased movements towards the application of
>reflexivity in archaeology (John Barrett, Adrian Chadwick and Ian Hodder
>are the most vocal). My interest in this topic converns the recording
>systems applied. I am firmly of the belief that we currently do not make
>the best use of the information we collect during fieldwork. An approach
>of this sort requires rapid feedback and synthesis mechanisms.
What is the real value of the 'rapid' side of things? Can people really think
any faster, for that matter do academics have any more time to give to their
research projects. Having worked on a number of such projects, the bottle neck
remains at the 'making sense' end not at the recording bigger, faster better
end.
>It is
>this area of producing rapid (computer generated?) synthesis of
>archaeological data that requires the attention of archaeological
>theory. In order to test theoretical models what do theoreticians
>require from 'raw' fieldwork data.
While some people are interested in 'testing' theoretical models, plenty of
people aren't. And this would be the problem that I have with a discussion of
which recording methods are 'best'. It entirely depends on the purpose of the
excercise, and that is not standard, neither do I think it should be.
I expect a chorus of our data needs to be relevant to other people and shared
easily responses. Indeed, so we need to document how we did things rather than
try to do them the same way.
>This is an important issue for a variety of reasons. I can't comment
>outside my own sphere but there seems to be a schism between theory and
>practice. This gap needs to be bridged to improve theoretical frameworks
>and data collection methodologies.
What would you suggest we construct the bridge with? Why do you feel you have
a 'sphere' that you can't comment outside of? Most people I know are engaged
in both 'theory' and 'practice'. But I know a great variety of people and I
can't see them ever really coming together on some unified project to 'bring
the discipline forward'.
Adams methodology suits a particular set of circumstances very well, and it
may suit some more well, but I feel that you are suggesting a blanket adoption
and I see that as counter productive
Sarah
*************************** ADVERTISEMENT ******************************
For ALL the latest Soccer news on your club, GAA sports results and the
latest on your F1 stars plus much more check out
http://sport.iol.ie/sport. Sport On-Line.... It's a passion
|