UKIC Archaeology Section

UKIC ARCHAEOLOGY SECTION
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Monday 29 April 2002
at AMTeC, The Foundry, Chatham Historic Dockyard

Present: Kirsten Suenson-Taylor, Graham Morgan, Karen Wardley, Liz Barham, Dana Goodburn-Brown, Glynis Edwards, John Price, Karen Wilson, Meg Wang, Liz Goodman, Jannicke Langfeldt, Vanessa Fell, Graham Langford, Sue Barker, Dave Watkinson, Susanna Pancaldo.

1. Apologies

Jo Dillon, Suzanne Kitto, Gill Nason

2. Minutes of the 2001 AGM

Karla Graham's name to be added to those present.
The minutes were then accepted as a correct record.

Proposer: Kirsten Suenson-Taylor. Seconder: Glynis Edwards.

3. Matters Arising

(4.2) Kirsten Suenson-Taylor reported that the DCMS finders guide booklet was going to be published by Tempus. A revised draft would be coming back to the UKICAS committee for approval.

(7) John Price asked what had happened about the two resolutions expressing concern for the future of the profession, agreed at the previous AGM. Kirsten Suenson-Taylor replied that they had gone to the UKIC professional services committee, and were "in train". She also drew the meeting's attention to recent events in Northampton Museum, where the conservator, among other staff, had been made redundant. A letter had been sent by UKIC, and the post has been reprieved for at least a year.

4. Chair's Report

4.1 The following report was received from Kirsten Suenson-Taylor.

This has been another busy year with the committee working on a variety of projects and issues. We have also had a diverse programme of events.

Our summer expedition this year was to the new Dover Boat galleries and the Roman Painted House where the excavators and curators gave us talks describing the processes from recovery to display. It was interesting to compare the two projects - one set up in the seventies from a rescue excavation in the simplest way possible, the other a large Lottery funded modern gallery.

For our Christmas meeting we heard a series of short talks, mostly case studies, which showed the incredible diversity of materials and problems that face conservators. The meeting was followed by an excellent Christmas party. This was held in conjunction with the Institute of Archaeology Conservation Department and was well attended. It would be interesting to hear members thoughts on this meeting and whether we might repeat the format of the meeting again this Christmas. Please contact any member of the committee with comments or suggestions for future meetings.

Our long awaited trip to Ireland, which was postponed from last year due to Foot and Mouth, finally took place in April. 26 people (conservators, their partners and children) enjoyed two wonderful site visits in the spring sunshine. We also had an afternoon of talks from Irish conservators and a guided tour of the new conservation laboratories at the National Museum. We are very grateful to the National Museum for their hospitality. Thanks must also go to Jo Dillon for the huge amount of work organising the weekend.

We are planning several future events: a radiography meeting, a joint meeting with the Society of Museum Archaeologists about storage, other joint events with the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA) Finds Group and with archaeological illustrators are also being explored. We are hoping to have a summer expedition again this year but the venue and date have still to be finalised.

The committee has continued to work on revising the section's publications. First Aid for Finds is being translated into Japanese and some of the drawings are being used in a similar publication in Italy, the committee have considered the possibility of encouraging translations into other languages. Publication of the Portable Antiquities Finders Guide drags on, it will now be published by Tempus but no date has yet been set for publication. Work has also continued on the Survey of Archaeological Conservation Provision, which was commissioned by English Heritage. The report is at the final draft stage and should be ready for publication shortly. We are grateful to Siobhan Stevenson and Sarah Watkins for all their hard work on this.

The Archaeology Section and the Director of UKIC both made submissions to the All-Party Parliamentary Archaeology Group (APPAG). The UKIC and Archaeology Section's submissions emphasised the importance of conservation to archaeology and outlined the many problems surrounding the planning process and funding of archaeology, and organisation and funding problems for museums receiving and curating archaeological material. Other areas of concern mentioned were the loss of conservation posts funded by local government, which has left areas of the country with no local conservation expertise. Further details about APPAG, a list of members and contributors, and a summary of submissions can be found at www.sal.org.uk. The full text of the UKIC and Archaeology Section submissions can be found on the UKIC website at http://www.ukic.org.uk/news/appag.html.

The committee continues to be very concerned about the loss of jobs in conservation and also the number of conservators leaving or considering leaving the profession. We requested comment from our members to gauge the depth of the problem and decide how best to approach it. We received a number of interesting and useful replies. We are also liaising with the Museums Professionals Group who recently published a report on problems within the museum sector, and also the Institute of Field Archaeologists who have started a project mapping career structures for archaeologists. This issue is now being taken forward by UKIC professional services committee. If any member is concerned about these issues or would like help with lobbying etc please contact me or any member of the committee.

Finally I would like to thank the committee for their hard work organising meetings, publications and lobbying on our members behalf. Two members (Liz Barham and Graham Morgan) who are coming to the end of their three-year term are standing for re-election. If anyone would like to serve on the committee in future years, please do get in touch with anyone on the committee.

The current committee is

Chair: Kirsten Suenson-Taylor
Secretary: Karen Wardley
Treasurer: Graham Morgan
Members: Liz Barham, Jo Dillon, Glynis Edwards, Dana Goodburn-Brown, Suzanne Kitto, Rebecca Lang, Mary Macqueen, Fleur Shearman, Paul Simpson

Co-opted members: John Price, Amanda Sutherland, Kathy Tubb, Sarah Watkins

This report was accepted. Proposer: Glynis Edwards. Seconder: Liz Goodman.

4.2 The Chair noted the current debate on the role and functions of the UKIC sections. She felt that political lobbying about the loss of posts and people leaving the profession are the current main concerns of the Archaeology Section committee, and they are encouraging UKIC to add their political and professional clout to this campaign. She requested that if members could provide any further information about this issue, and working conditions generally, they should pass them on, for more effective lobbying. Liz Barham asked who was on the professional services committee, and the Chair informed her, adding that a greater input from public services employees would be helpful. John Price suggested that a small group within the committee should be gathering information on this topic.

5. Secretary's Report

5.1 The following report was received from Karen Wardley.

There have been four committee meetings since the last AGM. These were held on 21 June, 25 October, 5 December 2001, and 18 February 2002. Three were held at the British Museum Conservation Department Meetings Room, and the Section's thanks go to Fleur Shearman for making this venue available and for the provision of refreshments. The fourth was held at the Museum of London, and was an extra meeting held specifically to discuss the section trip to Ireland, the December meeting, and a section response to the APPAG. Thanks to Liz Barham for organising this.

I have had the following correspondence over the last year, with an increasing proportion by e-mail.

With Richard Hobbs, who sent me copies of the draft Portable Antiquities Finders Guide for circulation to committee members for comment.

Received copy of correspondence between Sarah Stanley (Metals Section Secretary) and David Leigh re benefits of UKIC membership.

With Kayt Brown, Chair IFA Finds Group, re co-option of a representative from their committee to sit on Archaeology Section committee.

Wrote to Paul Simpson to welcome him onto committee, and to Suzanne Kitto and Rebecca Lang to confirm their re-election for a second term.

Received copies of correspondence from John Price re various UKIC and First Aid for Finds issues, and responses received.

General correspondence with committee members in advance of each meeting.

Received nominations for this year's committee.

As an elected member of the SMA committee, I have continued to act as an unofficial link between the two committees. Tim Schadla-Hall's paper from the Death by a 1000 Cuts meeting in December 2000 was published in the SMA Newsletter this spring. A joint meeting with SMA to launch the revised Guidelines on Long Term Storage for Excavation Archives has now been put back to 2003.

I have received copies of the IFA Finds Group committee minutes, and sent copies of our minutes in a reciprocal arrangement.

This report was accepted. Proposer: Graham Morgan. Seconder: Jannicke Langfeldt.

6. Treasurer's Report

6.1 The following report was received from Graham Morgan.

BANK RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS

Year Ended 31st January 2002

SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS

National Westminster Bank Acc No: 26108267 Sort code: 60-60-04
Lloyds TSB Bank Acc No: 1371863 Sort code: 30-90-16
Lloyds TSB Bank Acc No: 0213494 Sort code: 30-90-49

BANK SUMMARY

The major expenditure during the last financial year was for the publication of the revised editions of First Aid for Finds and of Guidelines No 1. It is hoped that the Guidelines for the Preparation of Excavation Archives will also be published this coming year. One serious point of concern is the request from UKIC not to repay any section fees. We have already lost last years fees and it looks like we will not get any this year as well. Any income we get is now dependent on our publication sales. This may restrict our publication programme.

This report was approved. Proposer: Vanessa Fell. Seconder: Karen Wardley.

6.2 The effects of the retention of fees by UKIC was discussed. These fees amounted to £1200 two years ago. Dave Watkinson expressed concern about increased centralisation within UKIC, and the potential loss of autonomy and authority for the sections, especially the Archaeology Section, which has been very active and achieved good results from its work. Liz Barham felt David Leigh should explain the reasons for this action more fully to members. There was a general consensus that this section should retain its identity, because of the very specific issues it is called on to deal with.

7. New Committee members

Liz Barham, as ordinary member, and Graham Morgan, as Treasurer, had both come to the end of their three year terms of office. Both had agreed to stand again, and no other nominations were received, and their re-election was carried unanimously.

Proposer: Karen Wardley Seconder: Kirsten Suenson-Taylor

8. Ratification of co-opted members.

The following co-opted members had agreed to continue on the committee and were ratified unanaimously:

John Price (Rescue)
Amanda Sutherland (JNAPC)
Kathy Tubb (CBA)
Sarah Watkins (Accreditation)

Proposer: Graham Morgan Seconder: Glynis Edwards

9. Any Other Business

9.1 Glynis Edwards announced that the X-radiography meeting would be held in February 2003 at the Museum of London, jointly with the IFA Finds Group. She also informed the meeting that the publication of the Survey of Archaeological Conservation Provision was to be discussed later this week, and the input from the questionnaire organised by Jo Dillon and Fleur Shearman would also be considered. Kirsten Suenson-Taylor also noted UKIC was looking into issues relating to fees charged by the private sector.

9.2 John Price noted that informnation relating to APPAG could be found on the CBA website. He was concerned that UKIC would not be invited to attend various meetings it was organising. Kirsten Suenson-Taylor was sure it would, but would check to make sure. It was also noted that there had been uneven response by relevant unions, and Prospect had contributed but Unison had not.

9.3 Dana Goodburn-Brown raised the problem of people searching the internet for advice on cleaning finds, and finding sites which gave dubious information. It was felt that more information should be available on the UKIC website aimed at interested members of the public. The Chair asked that all members should check the current web site and let Jo Dillon or Adrian Tribe know what they felt should be added. It was noted that CHIN, the Canadian website, used to have a section aimed at the public.

9.4 The Chair gave a vote of thanks to Dana Goodburn-Brown for organising the day and hosting the AGM, and closed the meeting at 2.20pm.