Introduction

MARGARET RULE

Maritime Archaeologist; Archaeological Director, Mary Rose Project 1967–1994; Archaeological Consultant 1995–2003

1 CULTURAL HERITAGE: THE ARCHAEOLOGIST, THE CONSERVATOR AND THE PUBLIC – AN ESSENTIAL COALITION

The recent growth of public interest in archaeology and their enthusiasm for the past is reflected by the astonishing success of 'heritage' programmes on television. A stranger to British television is often surprised at the number of cookery, gardening and archaeology programmes offered for entertainment every day and their success may reflect a growing wish to escape from the stresses of modern living and a desire to understand our past. All three subjects can be related to our heritage and the wonderful legacy left by our ancestors.

The better archaeological programmes often demonstrate the application of technology to solve the problems of dating, identifying and conserving cultural material, and the range of periods, sites and cultures investigated is wide and diverse. Usually, these techniques are not new as many were originally developed for commercial or military use, but their application to archaeology is new, and the public, through good television presentation, is able to understand both the technique and the problem.

One evening, we joined the architectural historians as they solve the problems of how a building developed as its use changed over the years, and the consultants discussed how best to interpret and preserve it for the future. The next evening, we joined a group of students of garden history who explained the importance of soil analysis and remote prospection using ground-penetrating radar or a magnetometer to enable the researcher to present an accurate recreation of a lost 18th-century garden. In the realm of the Field Archaeologist, we are offered programmes several times a week showing desperate attempts to solve all the problems of a complex excavation in 72 hours.

The use of modern computer techniques and the abilities of the forensic scientist skilfully displayed within these programmes have familiarised the general public with technology in a way that has never happened before. The result is that they cannot be fobbed off with conjecture about archaeological material – they expect facts. They also expect that the objects and any evidence found by modern archaeologists will be preserved to be reassessed and displayed for education and pleasure. In parallel with the growth in public interest there has been a growing investment of public money and with this comes accountability.

1.1 The Archaeologist

The task that is faced by the archaeologists, whether their work is publicly funded or not, is enormous and the skills required are diverse. The recognition that any excavation of buried material is inevitably destructive means that the intrusion into a site has to be justified and well planned. Pre-disturbance appraisal including soil analysis, geo-prospection, topographical survey and aerial photography will provide the outline for a strategic plan and a wise archaeologist would include the scientists in planning the programme of work at this early stage.

Archaeology has moved away from the collection of individual 'things' to the collection of information about the people who made and used the objects. This change in attitude requires a forensic approach and commitment far removed from treasure-hunting and early barrow digging. Even an important and highly glamourous site like the 7th century tomb discovered at Prittlewell, during the rescue excavations in advance of road development, was part of a well-designed programme founded on examination of the material discovered in the 1920s. The importance of the site, with its mixture of Christian and pagan ritual material, cannot be over emphasised and although the public may be dazzled by the gold crosses, the presence of wooden objects and small bone dice suggest that soil analysis may yield more information. The lost burial and vegetable materials buried with the body may throw new light on the environment in Essex in the early 7th century; only time and rigorous analysis of samples will tell.

1.2 The Conservator

The skills of the conservator and the high standards of diagnostic analysis and documentation required are an essential part of any programme to investigate and preserve evidence of our past. Whenever possible the monument or building should be preserved in situ in the context and the landscape where it was created. Interest in stately homes and public buildings exceeds interest shown in a sequence of objects displayed as art objects or collector's items in a museum gallery. The kitchens and the bathing arrangements in a house like Longleat, Wiltshire, UK are at least as interesting as the paintings and ceramics. However, the collections in a stately home need constant vigilance to ensure that climate changes, insects and dust do not destroy the legacy. While the house itself, like any building, needs constant repair to ensure that it will survive.

Any homeowner visiting a house like Longleat will recognise the problem but the scale of the maintenance and repair programme on any building whether it is a Cathedral, a Parish Church or a tollbooth is large and the needs are constant and unavoidable. This cannot be entirely funded from public funds and good interpretation and user-friendly display are essential if the site is to earn enough income to support the project. Both commercial sponsors and the public need to know that the site is well managed and that the future of the building and its contents is secure.

2 FROM DISCOVERY TO DISPLAY

So the archaeologist has to have a plan that will ensure good management from discovery to dissemination of information by popular and scientific publications and by public display. He or she also needs good scientific advisors. Certain constraints remain as tried and tested dogma:

1. Sites should not be excavated unless they are threatened with destruction or they fit into an agreed programme of research.

2. All excavation should be preceded by non-destructive survey.

3. A full programme of investigation, excavation, conservation, scientific analysis and publication must be agreed before work starts.

4. Funding should be in place or guaranteed from the start.

5. All stabilisation and preservation treatments should be reversible.

While all these constraints are desirable it is rare for them all to be possible...