One of the weakest aspects of volunteer-run archaeology in the past
has often been lack of dissemination of findings. From the outset,
FSARG has made great efforts to avoid this pitfall. This is what we
do:
- Write reports on every single
excavation by the following Christmas. These reports are written
to a template in accessible language and include desktop as well
as field research findings. Copies go to householders, land
owners and the Society archive. The writing team consists of
twelve members.
- When a project is finished (this may
take 2 to 3 years and involve multiple field interventions) a
visit is made to the
HER (Historic Environment Record) at Maidstone. Groups of
reports relating to specific findings are entered into the
system, accompanied by a general overall report of the project.
The HER entry forms are then completed. In this way our work is
preserved for the long term and made available to anyone who
needs to know.
- A short regular column is featured in
the Society's monthly
newsletter, which goes online. Articles are also written for
various magazines when the findings are of wider interest.
- Reports, including excavation and finds
specialist reports are published on our website, along with
details of events and other information. Between 2005 and 2010,
fifty one excavation reports have been published, each one, on
average, 1500 words with illustrations, footnotes and Small
Finds appendices. Finds reports cover topics such as Faversham's
clay tobacco pipes.
Discussion is taking place at present about
a possible journal style annual publication, also about producing
catalogue style reports on, for example, Faversham's medieval
pottery. We are aware that we have not yet published a book, but are
not sure that this is an appropriate way forward for us: watch this
space.
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