Sorry about neglecting the website for a while and apologies to all those whose questions have been un-answered. I promise to be more prompt in the future.
This is quite a worrying time for archaeologists. The economic downturn (what crisis?) has had a very obvious effect on the building industry and, as a consequence, on quarrying for sand, gravel and stone. All this effects the many professional archaeologists who work in the commercial sector. Quite simply, a slow down in building means no more new potential housing development sites going through the planning process. Less planning applications means less work for commercial archaeologists in assessing and excavating site due for development. It also means that standards may slip as things get more competitive, with surviving organisations competing for what little work there is around. There is also the worry (and her I speak personally) that the education and outreach side of projects, so vital in keeping schools and local communities involved in what is happening to their heritage, may come to be seen as luxuries that can’t be afforded.
At the moment, I am involved in writing a conservation plan for a well known English Heritage monument in the South-West (no, not Stonehenge – that’s been done) and also getting ready for the next outing, at the Wiltshire Heritage Museum, for the ‘Inspired by Stonehenge’ exhibition (I will write something more about this a bit nearer the start date of May 15th). This is in between lots of talks, events (take a look at the busy diary) and trying (as ever) to get new TV and radio ideas off the ground. It was fun doing a slot on the new BBC4 quiz show ‘It’s only a Theory’ with Andy Hamilton but I still feel that there are a lot of great archaeological stories out there that deserve to be filmed.
I’m hoping to get involved with a project in my home town of Nottingham over the next couple of months which would take me from my prehistoric roots to the time of the Second World War. If this happens (waiting for grants to come through) I will let you know straight away.
Mark (who sorts my website and any other computer problems for me – very understanding) keep trying to persuade me to ‘Twitter’ - whatever this is, or even blog. You never know, I may just take a leap into the present and inflict my inconsequential ramblings on a wider audience.
Keep watching this site – it will change!
Bye for now
Julian
Here now:
Land Rover Corner
My Experiences of the
Changing Stonehenge Landscape
Click here to view a recent movie of Julian
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