At 16:58 27/03/2009, Simon Chapman wrote:
>Several
>times in the past few years I have read reports compiled by professional
>archaeologists regarding the sites of former mining and ironworking sites
>and have been frustrated simply by the lack of knowledge displayed and the
>incorrect conclusions drawn.
Having inadvertently triggered this line of discussion by referring a
query on the list to a report complied for Cornwall HES, I must say
that I have found the author of that particular report to have been
thorough in the way he has researchesd other reports and willing to
involve known experts on the sites he has covered.
The comment above, and by other contributors to the discussion, does,
however, raise valid questions as to the value of some archaeological
investigation of mining and mining related sites. Which leads me on
to work in hand which proposes to assess such archaeological data
with a view to preparing a Research Strategy for future investigation
in the Historic Environment encompassing mining and quarrying. I am
currently writing the project design for a Research Framework for the
Archaeology of the Extractive Industries, a project to be carried out
by the National Association of Mining History Organisations (NAMHO),
with a view to receiving funding from English Heritage and,
hopefully, other bodies responsible for research into the historic
environment in the UK. The project will collect and assess all the
available data on the archaeology of mining and quarrying, published
and unpublished: data which will be analysed to identify strengths
and weaknesses in our current knowledge. If the quality of that data
is in question, we need to know about it.
There will be ample opportunity for experts in the field to provide
their input into the project as part of the consultation during the
data collection and subsequent analysis. It will be well advertised
through NAMHO's constituent organisations, relevant journals and
discussion lists. Make sure you get involved and flag up your
interest in the quality of the archaeological data.
Peter
(NAMHO Conservation Officer)
______________________________________________
Dr Peter Claughton,
Blaenpant Morfil, nr. Rosebush, Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire, Wales SA66 7RE.
Tel. +44 (0)1437 532578; Fax. +44 (0)1437 532921; Mobile +44 (0)7831 427599
Research Fellow - School of Geography, Archaeology and Earth Resources
Hon. University Fellow - School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Office address - Department of Archaeology, University of Exeter,
Laver Building, North Park Road, EXETER, EX4 4QE Tel. +44 (0) 1392 263709
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Co-owner - mining-history e-mail discussion list.
See http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/files/mining-history/ for details.
Mining History Pages - http://www.people.exeter.ac.uk/pfclaugh/mhinf/
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