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Dear all, This may be of special interest to the U.K. subscribers but of some interest to many others. I have heard that as a result of a Business Development Review and proposed new organisational structure at MoLAS (the Museum of London Archaeology Service), thirteen specialist posts, including all five specialists in archaeobotany and archaeozoology (as well as all in post-Roman Finds, and building materials) are currently threatened with redundancy. As management sees it, there appears to be a lack of work and demand and a financial loss is made from these specialists. While it is true that work is currently scarce for a few of these specialists, this is a short-term situation as MoLAS has a great deal of current and proposed excavation work, and it is unclear how it intends to deal with material from these, as well as maintaining its existing project commitments. Four of the five threatened environmental specialists have worked for MoLAS for 15 years or more and are extremely experienced in their specialisms, and in the environmental archaeology of London. London's assemblages are unique in Britain and there is a possibility that MoLAS will lose its in-house specialists in these fields. The consultation period ends at the end of next week and expressions of concern should be directed at the management at MoLAS as soon as possible. With best wishes, Dominique