Untitled - Council for British Archaeology
Untitled - Council for British Archaeology
Untitled - Council for British Archaeology
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individual associateship with a newsletter<br />
from late 1976, which should enable many to<br />
become better in<strong>for</strong>med on CBA affairs and<br />
help to overcome a 'major problem, that of<br />
communication with the "grass roots". This<br />
proposal was endorsed by the meeting of Group<br />
representatives in November, which otherwise<br />
your representatives found disappointing, as<br />
few firm proposals were <strong>for</strong>thcoming and not<br />
all Groups were represented.<br />
Of the major matters reported last year,<br />
"<strong>Archaeology</strong> and Government" is now in the<br />
background as a basis <strong>for</strong> future discussions<br />
on the organisation of <strong>British</strong> <strong>Archaeology</strong>.<br />
Group reorganisation is proceeding, despite<br />
unresolved difficulties in some parts. We<br />
have <strong>for</strong>mally lost Berkshire, where <strong>for</strong>mer<br />
members seem to be satisfactorily becoming<br />
associated with Group 12. But there seems<br />
no reason why members cannot also be members<br />
of Group 9, and we are happy to continue to<br />
publish appropriate reports in the Newsletter<br />
and to invite Berkshire speakers to the conference.<br />
While the establishment of a <strong>British</strong><br />
Archaeological Institution has been deferred,<br />
preparations <strong>for</strong> a certification scheme are<br />
actively in progress. Aimed at the fulltime<br />
but unqualified field worker, the<br />
serious spare time archaeologist and the<br />
graduate wanting a career in field archaeology,<br />
seven certificates are envisaged, which<br />
can be taken in isolation or as a series<br />
leading to a diploma. Syllabuses will be<br />
laid down by a CBA examining board.<br />
Most pleasing to report are 'the better<br />
relationships of the CBA with the DoE, particularly<br />
the twice-yearly meetings of the CBA<br />
officers with senior DoE officials. It is<br />
hoped that DoE funds <strong>for</strong> archaeology can be<br />
maintained at the present level in real terms.<br />
The CBA sustained a great loss by the sudden<br />
death of Derek Allen, Hon. Treasurer, in<br />
June 1975. Peter Fowler resigned as Hon.<br />
Sec. in July after four years fruitful work,<br />
and has been succeeded by our Trevor Rowley,<br />
to whom we offer congratulations and good<br />
wishes. Barry Cunliffe has agreed to be<br />
nominated a..; President in July 1976 in<br />
succession to Nicholas Thomas, so that CBA9<br />
can claim that its members are taking a large<br />
share of responsibility at national level.<br />
The Group.Executive has met twice and<br />
dealt with a variety of issues'. UnfOrtunately<br />
last year's Newsletter incurred a financial<br />
loss, kindly covered by the Ox<strong>for</strong>d University<br />
Department <strong>for</strong> External Studies, but this year<br />
there must be a rise in subscriptions and a<br />
realistic price <strong>for</strong> the Newsletter.<br />
The Report Conference again had an attendance<br />
of over a hundred. A useful innovation<br />
was an open discussion of what were then the<br />
major CBA issues, which was most in<strong>for</strong>mative<br />
to the Group CBA Executive representative.<br />
Outstanding during the year was the revival of<br />
the Autumn Meeting, at Bed<strong>for</strong>d on 22 November,<br />
through the ef<strong>for</strong>ts of David Baker and Alan<br />
Ross. While the Group AGM in the morning,<br />
postponed from May, was attended by the "faithful<br />
dozen", it was heart warming to be present<br />
in the afternoon with some 200 others to hear<br />
stimulating papers from James Dyer, Chris<br />
Young, David Miles, David Hall and Peter<br />
Jarvis, on topics ranging from tbe prehistory<br />
of the Chilterns to the industrial archaeology<br />
of the South Midlands.<br />
While it is doubtful whether 1975, as hoped,<br />
was the year of the Regional Groups, and our<br />
own role is not yet clear, the <strong>for</strong>thcoming<br />
conference and Newsletter 6 should provide<br />
sufficient justification <strong>for</strong> our continued<br />
existence and ef<strong>for</strong>ts will continue to be<br />
made to improve our internal communications.<br />
ARCHAEOLOGICAL PUBLICATION<br />
The Berkshire Archaeological Journal, vol.67<br />
1973-4. Berkshire Archaeological Society £2<br />
Free to members. 1975.<br />
Principles of Publication in Rescue <strong>Archaeology</strong>.<br />
Department of the Environment. October<br />
1975.<br />
Archaeological Publication - W.J. Fowler.<br />
It has been an interesting experience <strong>for</strong><br />
this reviewer to have these two publications<br />
come to his notice in quick succession. The<br />
first roused misgivings whether this latest<br />
volume of a long established county journal<br />
was as relevant to the present archaeological<br />
situation as it should or could be, while in<br />
the second these misgivings were seen defined<br />
as part of a scholarly analysis of the whole<br />
publication problem, with suggestions to<br />
remedy the situation.<br />
Of the. 103 impeccably,produced pages of' -<br />
BACJ vol. 67, no fewer than 61 are taken up