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Is there any chance of continuing the discussion from the up-coming London workshop on retention strategies at the next ICAZ in Argentina, perhaps in a evening session of some sort? It would be great to get guidelines established that can be SHOWN to administrators (the expression International Guidelines can work miracles on' bottom-line' mentality administrators). The conclusion of the London workshop could be passed around participants beforehand as talking points. Alice On Wed, Oct 23, 2013 at 12:40 PM, Terry O'Connor <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > Hi Sylvia et al., > > This is an absolutely critical topic, and very timely. Unfortunately I am > unable to get to the November 14th meeting (teaching Zooarch students that > day, appropriately!), so here's a few thoughts. > > First, we are tackling this problem in York. Clare Rainsford has done an > excellent job developing a retention strategy for animal bones from the > extensive Hungate excavations, based on the premise that what is retained > should be a high-quality research archive of material for which we are > confident about the date and depositional context. In urban medieval > archaeology, bones are not in short supply. They are clasts in the urban > sedimentation, some assemblages of which are informative and others are > not. In that situation, it is possible, indeed essential, to have a > protocol that 'ranks' some material as a priority for retention and > therefore ranks other assemblages as not a priority. We are now beginning > to apply the same arguments to archived (for which read 'warehoused') bone > assemblages from past excavations, and are drafting a paper that sets out > the Hungate protocol and its application. > > Second, it is essential that these decisions are taken by the zooarch > community. We know, in so far as anyone does, what material is and is not > likely to be of future research value. Yes, techniques change and improve: > 20 years ago we could not have predicted the need for samples for ancient > DNA analysis. However, even new techniques need well-dated and > well-provenanced samples, not reworked and highly time-averaged samples of > uncertain origin. And we need to know where those samples are, without > having them hidden amongst a huge pile of low-quality material. > > Third, if we duck the issue and fail to act, retention decisions will be > taken by others who, for whatever reasons, do not have zooarchaeology's > best interests at heart. Bones take up a lot of room and are an obvious > target for clearing out stores. Human bones cannot be thrown away; pottery > is unlikely to be disposed of in bulk. Therefore animal bones are > especially vulnerable. > > Fourth through ninth can wait for another day. It is good that this debate > is under way, but please let's make sure that it goes beyond a single > workshop which quite a few of us will be unable to attend. > > Terry > > > Terry O'Connor > Professor of Archaeological Science > Department of Archaeology, University of York > Biology S Block, Heslington, > York YO10 5DD > +44-1904-328619 > http://www.york.ac.uk/archaeology/staff/academic-staff/terry-oconnor/ > > http://www.sciculture.ac.uk/projects/large-grants/cultural-and-scientific-perceptions-of-human-chicken-interactions/ > <http://yorkfestivalofideas.com/> > > > On 22 October 2013 10:27, Warman, Sylvia < > [log in to unmask]> wrote: > >> Sorry Zooarchers >> >> I forgot the no attachments rule. >> >> Please use the following link to find out more about the upcoming event >> at the LAARC. >> >> >> http://www.archaeologists.net/news/131021-workshop-selection-strategies-archive-deposition-or-'less-more >> >> >> Best Wishes >> >> Sylvia >> >> >> >> Dr Sylvia Warman | Science Advisor, London >> >> Direct Line: 0207 973 3733 >> >> Mobile Phone: 07881805347 >> >> >> >> English Heritage | 1 Waterhouse Square >> >> 138-42 Holborn | London EC1N 2ST >> >> >> >> www.english-heritage.org.uk >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Robert Symmons [mailto:[log in to unmask]] >> Sent: 22 October 2013 10:15 >> To: Warman, Sylvia >> Subject: RE: [ZOOARCH] Selective retention and disposal of animal remains >> >> Since it will be the day before my 40th, I would say a drink is mandatory. >> :) >> xx >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Warman, Sylvia [mailto:[log in to unmask]] >> Sent: 22 October 2013 10:09 >> To: 'Robert Symmons' >> Subject: RE: [ZOOARCH] Selective retention and disposal of animal remains >> >> Super >> >> Might fit in a swift beverage after unless you are on tight schedule? >> >> Sylvia >> >> >> Dr Sylvia Warman | Science Advisor, London >> >> Direct Line: 0207 973 3733 >> >> Mobile Phone: 07881805347 >> >> >> >> English Heritage | 1 Waterhouse Square >> >> 138-42 Holborn | London EC1N 2ST >> >> >> >> www.english-heritage.org.uk >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Robert Symmons [mailto:[log in to unmask]] >> Sent: 22 October 2013 10:08 >> To: Warman, Sylvia >> Subject: RE: [ZOOARCH] Selective retention and disposal of animal remains >> >> Hi Dude >> Already enrolled in the meeting. It sounds like it will be an excellent >> day! >> xx >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Warman, Sylvia [mailto:[log in to unmask]] >> Sent: 22 October 2013 10:00 >> To: 'Robert Symmons' >> Subject: RE: [ZOOARCH] Selective retention and disposal of animal remains >> >> Hello Nobs >> >> We (folks in London with help of IfA london and the LAARC) are holding a >> workshop on just this topic on 14th Novemeber at the LAARC. >> >> I'm taking notes in the animal bone session - but it would be great to >> have some more curator type people there (plus you are still a Zooarch >> underneath as it were). >> >> I will send a less chatty version of this around ZOOARCH. >> >> Details of workshop attached - I do hope you can make it. >> >> Sylvia >> >> >> Dr Sylvia Warman | Science Advisor, London >> >> Direct Line: 0207 973 3733 >> >> Mobile Phone: 07881805347 >> >> >> >> English Heritage | 1 Waterhouse Square >> >> 138-42 Holborn | London EC1N 2ST >> >> >> >> www.english-heritage.org.uk >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Analysis of animal remains from archaeological sites [mailto: >> [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Robert Symmons >> Sent: 22 October 2013 09:56 >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: [ZOOARCH] Selective retention and disposal of animal remains >> >> Dear All >> >> Like much of the country, museums here in Sussex are suffering from an >> acute lack of storage space. In an attempt to alleviate this problem Sussex >> Museums Group (in consultation with the planning authority, local >> specialists and commercial units) is keen to limit the volume of material >> that is entering museum stores from developer-funded excavations. We are >> facing the prospect of making some very difficult decisions and I do not >> ask the following question lightly: >> >> What animal bone from developer-funded excavations could justifiably be >> disposed of following analysis, rather than being deposited at a museum? >> >> Of course we understand that the answer is not as simple as the question, >> but we hope to synthesise specialist opinion into some guidance that can be >> rolled out across the county. Sadly, keeping everything is not an option at >> this stage. >> >> All the best >> Rob >> >> Rob Symmons >> Secretary, Sussex Museums Group. >> >> This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain >> personal views which are not the views of English Heritage unless >> specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it >> from your system and notify the sender immediately. Do not use, copy or >> disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it. Any >> information sent to English Heritage may become publicly available. >> >> Portico: your gateway to information on sites in the National Heritage >> Collection; have a look and tell us what you think. >> >> http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/archives-and-collections/por >> tico/<http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/archives-and-collections/portico/> >> >> This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain >> personal views which are not the views of English Heritage unless >> specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it >> from your system and notify the sender immediately. Do not use, copy or >> disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it. Any >> information sent to English Heritage may become publicly available. >> >> Portico: your gateway to information on sites in the National Heritage >> Collection; have a look and tell us what you think. >> >> http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/archives-and-collections/por >> tico/<http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/archives-and-collections/portico/> >> >> This e-mail (and any attachments) is confidential and may contain >> personal views which are not the views of English Heritage unless >> specifically stated. If you have received it in error, please delete it >> from your system and notify the sender immediately. Do not use, copy or >> disclose the information in any way nor act in reliance on it. Any >> information sent to English Heritage may become publicly available. >> >> Portico: your gateway to information on sites in the National Heritage >> Collection; have a look and tell us what you think. >> >> http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/professional/archives-and-collections/portico/ >> > >