1. Curating the Palaeolithic: approaches to
desk-based assessment and field evaluation
Francis Wenban-Smith
Lis Dyson
Heritage in Practice CPD course
University College London
30th March 2017
CAHO-Contracting
Palaeolithic pre-construction
archaeology
Department of Archaeology

2. Introduction Our background and experience Background to the course
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Our background and experience
Background to the course
Programme and timetable
Approaches to the day
Goals
Outcomes

3. Background to the course
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Background to the course
Long (& increasingly) recognised need
Most heritage professionals don/t have Palaeolithic expertise
Lack of confidence in recognising/ managing development impact
Avoid calamitous loss of wonderful things
- consultations as part of eg. Stour project
- highlighted in HE seminar “Curating the Palaeolithic”
- highlighted in “Lost Landscapes”
- HE 3A3/4G1 Pal/Meso activity team

4. Programme and timetable
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Programme and timetable
Introductory presentations
Two case-studies:
- DBA
- field evaluation
Case-study approach
- principles presented
- hands-on group work
- reviewed/discussed
Recap, discussion and curatorial surgery
Timetable is a guide, but can be a bit flexible

5. CAHO-
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Approaches to the day
Constructive criticism and open disagreement and debate is welcome..
.. but in a supportive “no blame” framework
Probably very varied background experience
All about discussion and learning
This is a pioneer course, feedback for improvement welcomed

6. Goals: “Bring the Palaeolithic into the curatorial fold”
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Goals: “Bring the Palaeolithic into the curatorial fold”
Developing curatorial* confidence
Recognising Palaeolithic potential at the earliest possible stage
Establishing Palaeolithic significance at the earliest stage
Application of suitable evaluation methods
Recognising importance when it has been found

7. Outcomes Confident curators Move beyond “disturbed” vs “undisturbed”
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Outcomes
Confident curators
Move beyond “disturbed” vs “undisturbed”
Early identification of importance
Bringing in specialist expertise (when needed) at an early stage
not missing important and interesting sites
Promoting wider interest in, and appreciation of, “the Ice Age”
A relaxed retirement for me!

8. And finally - “the Suffolk question”
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And finally - “the Suffolk question”
Regional variations?
Same principles
Different approaches?
To be discussed..