Careful, there Andy. Definitions of "Archaeology" may vary (how about "the study of past societies through their material remains"?) but one thing its not is time dependent - so, not "remote past" but simply "past". Here in South Yorkshire we archaeologically excavate late 19th and early 20th century industrial sites. And these are not (that) remote. They are interesting and informative, though..... Regards Jim PS Our Website - note the new shortened URL. Belated thanks to all those who gave advice on short link URL sites. +~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~ +~+~+~+~+ Jim McNeil, South Yorkshire Archaeology Service Development Services, Howden House 1 Union Street, Sheffield, S1 2SH Tel.: 0114 273 6428 Fax.: 0114 273 5002 Email: [log in to unmask] Website: http://syas.v3.net +~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~ +~+~+~+~+ -----Original Message----- From: Kirkham, Andy (DSD) [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 06 December 2004 12:19 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Watching Briefs - A Useful Form of Archaeological Mitigation? I know this may sound like nit-picking but I'm sure archaeology is never found as the result of a watching brief. I thought archaeology was the act of "scientific study of the cultural remains and monuments of the remote past" or something like that and I fear it does the "archaeological comunity" no favours to mis-apply the term with wild abandon. Making every hole in the ground or fragment of broken pottery into "archaeology" is not just gross misuse of the language it's unsustainable and downright confusing. So come on you professionals, understand your craft, let's have less of the sloppy talk, and the arguments may become a little more meaningful. Cheers - Andrew The information in this email is confidential. The contents may not be disclosed or used by anyone other than the addressee. If you are not the addressee, please tell us by using the reply facility in your email software as soon as possible. Sheffield City Council cannot accept any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of this message as it has been transmitted over a public network. If you suspect that the message may have been intercepted or amended please tell us as soon as possible.