Exam Questions and Concise Model Answers
Candidates should answer two questions, one from each section
Section A
- By what mechanisms, and to what extent are ancient monuments, which have not been scheduled, protected in England? How successful do you think these mechanisms are? answer
- Martin Carver has recently argued that the process of valuable archaeological research in England has been fundamentally eroded by the association of archaeological work and planning procedures through PPG 16. if you were to be appointed to replace Geoffrey Wainwright as Chief Archaeologist of Englaish Heritage in April 1999, how might you use the resources of EH to improve the quality of archaeological research in England? answer
- The British School of Archaeology at Athens has recently launched an appeal for £10 million to restore it to its former pre-eminent role in the archaeology of Greece. Do you believe that the British School in Athens, or other Schools and Institutes elsewhere, deserve such support? answer
Section B
- To what extent does the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property actually protect the cultural properties owned by nation states? How might it be improved? answer
- The National Trust presents a model for the way in which English Heritage might develop its primary role as protector of Angland's prehistoric and historic heritage. Discuss. answer
- Does the Native American Graves protection and Repatriation Act provide an effective mechanism whereby the interests of native Americans and osteo-archaeologists might be mediated? If not, what changes would you recommend? answer
Question 1
By what mechanisms, and to what extent are ancient monuments, which have not been scheduled, protected in England? How successful do you think these mechanisms are?
Non-scheduled monuments are primarily protected through the planning process, instituted through PPG16 and the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Planning applications are assessed by SMR and county archaeologists form the perspective of the damage that development may cause to the archaeological environment. PPG16 notes that not all nationally important monuments are scheduled and presumption will be made in favour of their preservation. Recommendations about planing applications that will be accepted are to be found in the Local Plan, set up by the Town and Country Planning Act.
There are also other ways that archaeology may be preserved 'on the back of' other factors. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Parks all contain archaeology, and relevant planning acts provide means by which environmental assessment may protect these areas.
PPG16 is an advice note, and archaeology may be outweighed by other factors considered in the assessment of planning applications according to local needs. The competitive tendering process for archaeological work often means that in field evaluations archaeological work is costed to the minimum required.
Question 2Martin Carver has recently argued that the process of valuable archaeological research in England has been fundamentally eroded by the association of archaeological work and planning procedures through PPG 16. if you were to be appointed to replace Geoffrey Wainwright as Chief Archaeologist of Englaish Heritage in April 1999, how might you use the resources of EH to improve the quality of archaeological research in England?
Martin Carver argued that archaeology is only valuable in the context of research questions. When a site might answer such a question presumption should be made that it will be excavated fully when threatened by development. PPG16 argues in favour of the reservation of archaeological remains wherever possible. This also includes preservation from archaeologists. English Heritage has recently argued (in their 'Frameworks for our Past' 1997 and Research Agenda 1998) that if research questions for periods, regions and materials are spelt out before hand when briefs for field evaluation are drawn up special mention can be made for the collection of data necessary to answer research questions.
Requires reasoned discussion around these two opposing viewpoints.
Question 3The British School of Archaeology at Athens has recently launched an appeal for £10 million to restore it to its former pre-eminent role in the archaeology of Greece. Do you believe that the British School in Athens, or other Schools and Institutes elsewhere, deserve such support?
In the British Academy review of the British Schools in 1995 Athens was criticised for having extravagant and ill thought-out spending plans (new hostals and lecture theatre) and their reliance on past laurels &emdash; work at Knossos and Sparta. and were politely told to work to their research strengths &emdash; archaeological science. The BSA obviously disagrees with the Brit. Academy's assessment of them and wishes to pursue it alone. In their launch of the appeal they note that other foreign schools are better funded and the BSA were losing out in excavation permits to good sites. It is true that other schools are better funded but the BSA were not stressing the research. Some discussion of other school activities &emdash; especially CBRL and Society of South Asian Studies &emdash; appropriate as contrasts.
NB: The British School in Athens has sought private financial support - they are not asking for £10 million from the British Academy.
Question 4To what extent does the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property actually protect the cultural properties owned by nation states? How might it be improved?
The Paris Convention of 1970 protects cultural properties of nation states through a listing mechanism. Countries must name their major cultural properties and these can then be claimed for if illicitly exported. Sections of the convention must then be made law in host country legislation.
But major problems. Only works between countries who have signed up. These are primarily countries that are losing antiquities and not those gaining them. The UK and France are not signatories for example. It cannot protect property as yet un-excavated. It also does not protect nationally important property in private hands. The Rome convention of 1995 attempts to deal with some of these specific problems. The illicit antiquities trade is well organised and it works in the favour of all those involved in it. This is a losing battle.
Question 5The National Trust presents a model for the way in which English Heritage might develop its primary role as protector of Angland's prehistoric and historic heritage. Discuss.
English Heritage and The National Trust are very different; public sector with responsibility to government and treasury, versus private sector with long term planning and independent financial means. The National Trust does not have to protect buildings and archaeological sites not in its ownership. It does not have to mediate with other powerful interests.
But the national Trust clearly shows that people are prepared to pay to protect the heritage, as shown by its large membership. EH could learn from this.
Question 6Does the Native American Graves protection and Repatriation Act provide an effective mechanism whereby the interests of native Americans and osteo-archaeologists might be mediated? If not, what changes would you recommend?
NAGPRA requires all federal authorities to draw up and publish a catalogue of Native American skeletal remains and associated funerary artefacts in their possession and to list their likely cultural affiliation. On the basis of this Native Americans can claim to have skeletal remains and artefacts returned to them. NAGPRA is not meant to be a mediating device between archaeologists and native Americans. The Act is about the repatriation of property considered to have been taken without consent. But it has had good effects in speeding up the description of skeletal remains and forcing archaeologists and others to consult Native Americans in advance of archaeological work.
Changes that would help would might allow that study of very old remains that are difficult to culturally affiliate; i.e. Kennewick Man.