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Ancient and ArchaeologyΒ  permalink

How Much!!!!!

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Backtothedarkplace (U2955180) on Wednesday, 9th December 2009

  Ok, a four in the morning question for you all.
  
  How much does an archeological dig cost? Obviously big ones cost more than little ones but say something like a Motte and Bailey castle, a smallish one, not Windsor castle size.
  
  And for want of a better word a normalish dig, no one finds anything exceptional other than normal castelly remains.

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by TwinProbe (U4077936) on Wednesday, 9th December 2009

  Hi bttdp,
  
  A very good question, but you won't be surprised to find that it's difficult to give an easy answer! There are several things you should consider. Taking your example of the Motte and Baily castle:
  
  Are you planning to excavate the whole structure down to bed rock, or target (for example) internal buildings within the bailey with traces revealed by geophysics?
  
  Is the work to be performed by a commercial archaeology unit, or a University department with plenty of 'free' students and volunteers?
  
  The post-excavation costs until excavation report publication are at least the equal of excavation costs. This assumes you find some pottery and metal objects. Supposing, in a water-logged ditch, a huge cache of rare medieval glass, wood and leather-work is discovered which needs urgent conservation. Under these circumstances your post-excavation costs sky-rocket.
  
  In real terms you would draw up a research proposal for your excavation and target, in each season, exactly what you had funding for.
  
  Best wishes,
  
  TP

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  Posted by PaulRyckier (U1753522) on Wednesday, 9th December 2009

  Dark,
  
  it is only a respons in sideline to your question.
  
  I am on a members' list of Raakvlak (The archaeological service Bruges and surroundings). As such I receive news letters from them and learn a lot about their activities. Sadely it is only in Dutch. But I found this English language URL which points a bit to their activities:
  
  
  As I learned from their news letters most of their activities start when there are urgent needs, for instance a building which has to be removed for a new one. Then they start with some "test", "probation?" trenches to cover as much surface as possible where they expect some archaeological items and go as deep as neccesary to reach eventually "virginal ? ground".
  
  I did some research for a "circle" in Assebroek near Bruges sparked by a "hedge" thread of Brigantes here on the boards for the conservation of "his" "hedges". Phoned also to the university of Ghent about this circle and they said they knew about it and that it wasn't sure it was a hedge from the Bronze age and that it also could be from a later date. The head of the Bruges service I mentioned told me that there was no urgent need to do research as there was not yet some plans to alter the site by buildings and all that...
  
  As I understand it, the potential building society isn't allowed to do further works the archaeological research pending...and as they are in need of time the building company seeks for cooperation as to let the archaeological work go on as quickly and as smootly as possible. I think the cost of the archaeological research is paid by the city of Bruges... I will ask it once...and as I see it they do as less work as possible to minimize the cost...and I think the costs raise mainly from the circumstances that Twinprobe so excellently explained...
  
  Warm regards,
  
  Paul.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Backtothedarkplace (U2955180) on Friday, 11th December 2009

  Hi TP & Paul
  
  Ive put a full explanation on the bar thread as to why but briefly I was looking at a house with whats allegedly a motte and bailey in the field next to the house. That and a program about a bloke restoring an old building who had to pay for a survey to get permission to run the mains and drains through to the property.
  
  Just made me wonder how much it would be. The house has gone so it is idle curiosity but thanks for trying to help.

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