Selected projects
4.19.1 The publication of archaeological projects: a survey of user needs
The publication of archaeological projects: a survey of user needs is a major project jointly funded by English Heritage, in collaboration with CADW: Welsh Historic Monuments, DCHAS: the Heritage Service (Republic of Ireland), the Environment and Heritage Service (Northern Ireland), and Historic Scotland. The overall aim of the survey is to ascertain how fieldwork publications are being used, and what users need and expect from them. It is being conducted by the Council for British Archaeology who have considerable experience in surveys of this kind.
With the establishment of the modern discipline of archaeology the question of how to record and disseminate the results of archaeological field projects became an important subject of debate. Emphasis was originally on preservation by record with full publication of that record being regarded as an integral part of the process. More recently, however, there has been much debate about the level of publication and the appropriateness of confining certain types of information to archives. While few question that a full record must be maintained for each fieldwork project, not all agree that such projects should be published in their entirety. Arguments on this issue have been numerous and diverse. They include practical aspects, such as cost and speed of publication, perceptions about the state of archaeological research in a particular region, the role of publishing in the establishment of status within the discipline, and epistemological questions concerning the nature of archaeological evidence and associated records.
Meanwhile, the increasing intensity of archaeological fieldwork during the second half of the twentieth century has meant that practical concerns, such as how to resolve publication backlogs and the cost of publishing a much greater volume of material, came to the forefront of debate, at least in the sphere of policy formulation. The result was a series of important reports addressing collection, recording, and publication in the context of archaeological fieldwork projects (eg Principles of publication in archaeology, 1975 The Frere Report'; The publication of archaeological excavations, 1982 The Cunliffe Report'; Management of archaeological projects, 1991 MAP2'; Publication and archiving of archaeological projects, 1996 Historic Scotland).
These initiatives have, however, largely focused on problems relating to the production of archaeological publications. In contrast, this survey is an attempt to focus on how people use fieldwork publications, and how they contribute to the overall research environment of the discipline. The resulting baseline information will then be used to inform debate, and ensure that funding organisations can take user needs into consideration when making policy decisions in the future. In addition, this is the first time that such a survey has embraced the whole of the British Isles, providing an opportunity for comparative research into approaches adopted in different regions and countries.
The survey consists of a mail questionnaire, alongside a series of in-depth interviews. The intention is to obtain information on both actual use of fieldwork publications and user attitudes and expectations. The questionnaire deals largely with practical issues, such as the extent to which people use fieldwork publications and archives, which aspects of them are commonly used, and for what purpose, and attitudes towards different kinds of publication media (eg print, CD-ROM, and the Internet). In contrast, the interviews are being used to follow up broader issues, such as expectations with regard to the level of publication, the relationship between evidence and interpretation, and the narrative style and structure of fieldwork publications. In this way it is hoped that recent debates about archaeological writing and publication will be addressed, as well as the specific pragmatic concerns of national organisations involved in funding publication, and that these two areas can be brought together. In order to assess the diverse needs and interests served by fieldwork publications, particular attention has been directed towards potential variation in patterns of use and expectation between different regions and different sections of the archaeological community.
The project began with an intensive design phase that culminated in the circulation of the questionnaire in early May 1998. The questionnaire was distributed to a large sample of individuals who were systematically selected to ensure good representation across the discipline (including independent archaeologists, undergraduate students, and members of local and /regional societies) and across geographical regions. An initial assessment of the returns indicates a response rate of c 32% of the total sample (1314 returns to present), which are relatively evenly spread over different constituencies within the discipline and different regions. This positive response suggests that the survey is perceived by members of the discipline as a welcome opportunity to express their needs and views. The project has reached the data entry and analysis phase and is due for completion in February 1999. Further information can be obtained from the Project Officer at Council for British Archaeology, Bowes, Morrell House, 111 Walmgate, York, YO1 9WA.
email: archaeology@compuserve.com