To respond to Tom's question about possibly disgarding unidentifiable - non-
measurable bone fragments. Although in our lab we measure the length and
weight of all bone fragments whether identifiable or not, I still worry that by
throwing away bone from well-dated contexts we lose the chance to say
something about site formation processes in the future. It is the old fear that
new techniques will open up new possibilities for information gathering.
What I perhaps did not mention is that my museum and others like it have
been lobbying for years for off-site facilities in containers or old factory
buildings etc. outside Budapest where rents are cheaper. However, not only
have new funds not been provided even in better financila times but the
museum (virtually all museums in the country) have had serious money
related to research taken away from them. The study of cultural processese
is not of much interest to the new masters of the State copared to
exhibitions. There is little political understanding that making a good exhibit
requires active research. At the same time, the anumber of excavations is
sky-rocketing because of Hungary's entry to the EU, at least it has been. Not
to excavate is not an option because the sites will be destroyed entirely. I
expect that many of Hungary's problems are mirrored in other new member
States.
Alice
|