Management of Archaeological Projects (MAP2) has been the model for archaeological projects undertaken or funded by English Heritage since its publication in 1991 and has been influential in establishing benchmarks and standards for the profession as a whole.

It was always intended that MAP2 would be reviewed and revised in the light of practical experience, and that other groups should apply, interpret, and develop this framework with reference to their own particular areas of interest. Accordingly, English Heritage is now reviewing the project management model set out in MAP2 in the light of developments in project management and data handling across the historic environment sector with the intention of issuing new project management guidance.

MAP2 specifically focussed on field archaeology although its general principles are widely applicable across the whole historic environment sector. Specifically, MAP2 established the formal requirement that projects funded by English Heritage should have an explicit research agenda, be properly planned, transparently documented and effectively managed; that the results be promptly and appropriately disseminated; and that the potential of the data should be subject to critical evaluation against the research agenda throughout the lifetime of a project.

The revised guidance will build on these principles, embracing data sets and traditions of investigation which did not fall within the specifically archaeological remit of MAP2. It will cover all fields of academic research on the historic environment, from the technical to the social and economic. This guidance will be applicable to the full range of historic environment research projects commissioned and undertaken by English Heritage. These research programmes will investigate the buried, submerged, and up-standing, built, and landscape components of the historic environment; and will have the strategic aim of enabling understanding, enjoyment, and protection of the historic environment in the context of current national and regional priorities. The new guidance will incorporate current thinking and practice on project management and will emphasise a dynamic, flexible approach to the collection and analysis of information.

The new guidance will form the specification for historic environment research projects funded or undertaken by English Heritage. It will consist of:

• this generic statement of the principles of project management to be applied to historic environment research. This will operate alongside MAP2 (http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/upload/pdf/management_of_archaeological_projects.pdf) for EH funded projects until the production of:
• fuller project management guidance, which will be supported by more detailed information on the practical application of the guidance to the various specialist areas within historic environment research (e.g. maritime archaeology or building analysis and recording).

Generales

1. El arqueólogo no podrá autorizar la liberación de un área específica sin tomar previamente todos los recaudos que le aseguren que en la misma no sufrirán impactos o efectos negativos recursos arqueológicos.

2. Deberá respetar y cumplimentar las exigencias legales - nacionales o provinciales- así como las disposiciones o reclamos de los organismos locales - provinciales o municipales- siempre que los mismos cuenten con el aval de la AAPRA u otros organismos reconocidos en la temática arqueológica.

3. Contactar los organismos provinciales que tengan a cargo la protección del Patrimonio Arqueológico cuando haya que acordar trabajos a desarrollar en sus jurisdicciones.

4. No interferir los trabajos de otros colegas sin las respectivas consultas y acuerdos - Ej. superponiendo trabajos en un área que ya estaba siendo estudiada por otro profesional.

A. Estándares Generales

1. Desempeñar la actividad profesional tendiendo siempre a la conservación y preservación de la base de recursos arqueológicos y a su buen uso.

2. Asumir un rol activo y protagónico en la prevención de acciones o efectos destructivos o perturbadores del registro arqueológico por los distintos agentes - antrópicos y naturales -.

3. Practicar excavaciones u otras acciones que impliquen alteración del Registro Arqueológico sólo en los casos debidamente justificados y que se puedan desarrollar y llevar a su plena finalización en acordancia con un buen nivel científico-técnico.

4. Adherir a los estándares científicos consistentemente aprobados por la comunidad científica, de manera tal que se maximice y optimice la conservación del Registro Arqueológico y/o la generación de información y producción de conocimientos a partir del mismo.

Atención: El punto 5 se sacó y con los cambios establecidos pasa al Código de Etica

The standard and guidance for archaeological investigation and recording of standing buildings and structures was formally adopted as IFA approved practice at the Annual General Meeting of the Institute held on 11 September 1996. Revised September 2001.

The Standard
A programme of archaeological building investigation and recording will determine, as far as is reasonably possible, the nature of the archaeological resource associated with a specified building, structure or complex. It will draw on existing records (both archaeological and historical sources) and fieldwork. It will be undertaken using appropriate methods and practices which satisfy the stated aims of the project, and which comply with the Code of conduct, Code of approved practice for the regulation of contractual arrangements in field archaeology, and other relevant by-laws of the IFA. The programme will result in the production of drawings, an ordered accessible archive and a report.

Definition of archaeological building investigation and recording
The definition of archaeological building investigation and recording (ABIR) is a programme of work intended to establish the character, history, dating, form and archaeological development of a specified building, structure, or complex and its setting, including buried components, on land, inter-tidal zone or underwater.

Purpose of archaeological building investigation and recording
The purpose of ABIR is to examine a specified building, structure or complex, and its setting, in order to inform:

• the formulation of a strategy for the conservation, alteration, demolition, repair or management of a building, or structure, or complex and its setting or
• to seek a better understanding, compile a lasting record, analyse the findings/record, and then disseminate the results.

Occurrence
ABIR may arise:

• prior to, during and on completion of works of repair, alteration, management or demolition
• as part of the planning process (within the framework of appropriate national guidance including planning policy guidance and associated legislation and/or development plan policy)
• in a conservation area, where records of buildings, structures or complexes and their setting (PPG 15 para 2.17; see Appendix 6) may assist the local authority to determine the impact of a given proposal on the character of the conservation area as well as assessing individual buildings and structures of importance
• under the provisions of the Ecclesiastical Exemption (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Order 1994 relating to places of worship and their internal systems of control, and such similar provisions in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and the Faculty Jurisdiction System relating to Church of England Churches and arising from the Care of Churches and Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Measure 1991; or the Care of Cathedrals Measure 1990 and Supplementary Provisions 1994
• as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (see 3.1.11 below)
• as the basis for, or in conjunction with, proposals or specifications for work (eg those of an architect, engineer, builder or chartered
• surveyor) to a building, structure, or complex and its setting
• as part of an agreed strategy in mitigation of damage or loss to a building, structure or complex and its setting, including a process
• of controlled demolition or re-erection
• in conjunction with a programme of archaeological assessment, field evaluation or excavation
• in connection with the preparation of conservation or management plans by private, local, national or international bodies; for example as part of a total facility management scheme in a museum or related context, or where a building is seen to be at risk
• within the context of the interpretation and presentation of the site to the public
• within a programme of research not generated by a specific threat to the archaeological resource
• within the context of a threat from natural agencies
• as part of a disaster mitigation plan by way of insurance against loss or damage

ABIR may therefore be commissioned by a number of different individuals or organisations, including local planning authorities, national advisory bodies, government agencies, private owners, developers or their agents, archaeological and architectural researchers, etc

The standard and guidance for an archaeological watching brief was formally adopted as IFA approved practice at the Annual General Meeting of the Institute held on 14 October 1994. Revised September 2001.

The Standard
An archaeological watching brief will record the archaeological resource during development within a specified area using appropriate methods and practices. These will satisfy the stated aims of the project, and comply with the Code of conduct, Code of approved practice for the regulation of contractual arrangements in field archaeology, and other relevant by-laws of the IFA.

Definition of an archaeological watching brief
The definition of an archaeological watching brief is a formal programme of observation and investigation conducted during any operation carried out for non-archaeological reasons. This will be within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or
underwater, where there is a possibility that archaeological deposits may be disturbed or destroyed. The programme will result in the preparation of a report and ordered archive. This definition and Standard do not cover chance observations, which should lead to an appropriate archaeological project being designed and implemented, nor do they apply to monitoring for
preservation of remains in situ.

Purpose of a watching brief
The purpose of a watching brief is:

• to allow, within the resources available, the preservation by record of archaeological deposits, the presence and nature of which could not be established (or established with sufficient accuracy) in advance of development or other potentially disruptive works
• to provide an opportunity, if needed, for the watching archaeologist to signal to all interested parties, before the destruction of the material in question, that an archaeological find has been made for which the resources allocated to the watching brief itself are not sufficient to support treatment to a satisfactory and proper standard

A watching brief is not intended to reduce the requirement for excavation or preservation of known or inferred deposits, and it is intended to guide, not replace, any requirement for contingent excavation or preservation of possible deposits.

The objective of a watching brief is to establish and make available information about the archaeological resource existing on a site.

Occurrence
A watching brief may arise:

• in response to a development which threatens the archaeological resource
• as part of the planning process (within the framework of appropriate national planning policy guidance notes) and/or development plan policy
• as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (see 3.1.4 below)
• outside the planning process (eg ecclesiastical development, coastal erosion, agriculture, forestry and countryside management, works by public utilities and statutory undertakers)

A watching brief may therefore be instigated or commissioned by a number of different individuals or organisations, including local planning authorities, national advisory bodies, government agencies, private landowners, developers or their agents.

Such materials include all archaeologically recovered artefacts, building materials, industrial residues, environmental material, biological remains (including human remains) and decay products, collectively referred to as ‘finds’. Their collection, documentation, conservation and research is hereafter referred to as ‘finds work’.
The standard and guidance for the collection, documentation, conservation and research of archaeological materials was formally adopted as IFA approved practice at the Annual General Meeting of the Institute held on 6 September 2001.

The standard
Collection, documentation, conservation and research of archaeological materials (hereafter finds work) will result in an ordered, stable, accessible archive using appropriate methods and practices. Finds work will result in report(s) intended for dissemination. The methods and practices employed must satisfy the stated aims of any project of which finds work comprises all or part, and comply with the Code of conduct, Code of approved practice for the regulation of contractual arrangements in field archaeology, and other relevant by-laws of the Institute of Field Archaeologists.

Definition of finds work
Finds work is defined as the process of retrieving, sorting, cleaning, marking, conserving, recording, analysing, interpreting and
preparing for permanent storage all materials retained as a result of archaeological fieldwork, and disseminating the results. The term ‘finds’ is taken to include all artefacts, building materials, industrial residues, environmental material, biological remains (including human remains) and decay products.

Purpose of finds work
Finds work seeks to provide an understanding of societies and their environments, not only at a site-specific level, but also in a local, regional, national and international context. The results of this work must be documented and should be disseminated in one or more published accounts. Finds work also creates a stable, ordered, well documented, accessible material archive which should act as a resource for current and future research. Finds work contributes to the formulation of conservation, preservation, collection, dispersal, presentation, education and management strategies; also local, regional, national and international research frameworks and policies.

Occurrence of finds work
Finds work may occur

• as part of a programme of field evaluation, excavation, watching brief and building investigation and recording
• as part of a programme of investigation of archaeological materials
• within a programme of research not generated by a specific threat to the archaeological resource
• within the context of the interpretation and presentation of the finds to the public
• as a result of enquiries by members of the public
• as a result of the continuing curation and care of collections in long-term storage
• as a result of the requirements of planning and heritage legislation

Finds work may therefore be instigated or commissioned by a number of different individuals or organisations, including local authorities, archaeological trusts and units, national bodies, government agencies, educational establishments, private owners, members of the public, developers or their agents, or archaeological researchers.

Archeological documentation is a series of actions applied to properties of archeological interest. Documentation of such properties may occur at any or all levels of planning, identification, evaluation or treatment. The nature and level of documentation is dictated by each specific set of circumstances. Archeological documentation consists of activities such as archival research, observation and recording of above-ground remains, and observation (directly, through excavation, or indirectly, through remote sensing) of below-ground remains. Archeological documentation is employed for the purpose of gathering information on individual historic properties or groups of properties. It is guided by a framework of objectives and methods derived from the planning process, and makes use of previous planning decisions, such as those on evaluation of significance. Archeological documentation may be undertaken as an aid to various treatment activities, including research, interpretation, reconstruction, stabilization and data recovery when mitigating archeological losses resulting from construction. Care should be taken to assure that documentation efforts do not duplicate previous efforts.

"Emplean las normas appropriadas para catalogar, manejar y compartir la información de las collecciones. Metadatos, vocabulario, classificación, intercambio, procesos y investigaciones." (Canadian Heritage)

Muchas veces he leido en los informes técnicos errores o utilisación eronea o abusiva de los terminos técnicos en la descripción de lmaterial arqueológicos, de los sitios o de diversas tecnicas. Tal vez por falta de rigor científica, por simplicidad o por desconocimiento del vocabulario.

Los arquéologos no han desarrollado todavia un sistema de clasificación logico. La mayoria utilizan los sistemas de clasificación propuso por los museos. Utilizar una clasificación y un vocabulario preciso — ademas en nuestras diciplina donde la descripción es importante — permite de "hablar de la misma cosa", permite de definir, comparar o oponer el material presente en las colecciones publicas o privadas, el material recolectado durante investigaciones...

Entre muchos, los sistemas de la Sociedad de los Museos del Quebec junto al organismo del Patrimonio Canadiense (Canada) y la Réunión de los Museos Nacionales (Francia) proponen glosarios y sistemas de clasificación logicos reconocidos por los profesionales.

Más...
El sistema de clasificación Info-Muse para etnografía, historia y arqueología (en inglés o francés)
Los estandares del organismo Patrimonio Canadiense (en inglés o francés)
Las definiciones de las técnicas, los medios, materiales y soportes de la Réunión de los Museos Nacionales [RTF] (en francés)

The standard and guidance for archaeological excavation was formally adopted as IFA approved practice at the Annual General Meeting of the Institute held on 22 September 1995.

The Standard
An archaeological excavation will examine and record the archaeological resource within a specified area using appropriate methods and practices. These will satisfy the stated aims of the project, and comply with the Code of conduct, Code of approved practice for the regulation of contractual arrangements in field archaeology, and other relevant by-laws of the IFA. It will result in one or more published accounts and an ordered, accessible archive.

Definition of excavation
The definition of archaeological excavation is a programme of controlled, intrusive fieldwork with defined research objectives which examines, records and interprets archaeological deposits, features and structures and, as appropriate, retrieves artefacts, ecofacts and other remains within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or underwater. The records made and objects gathered during fieldwork are studied and the results of that study published in detail appropriate to the project design.

Purpose of excavation
The purpose of excavation is to examine the archaeological resource within a given area or site within a framework of defined research objectives, to seek a better understanding of and compile a lasting record of that resource, to analyse and interpret the results, and disseminate them.

Occurrence
Excavation may arise:

• in response to a proposed development which would threaten the archaeological resource
• as part of the planning process (within the framework of appropriate national planning policy guidance notes) and/or development plan policy
• as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (see 3.1.3 below)
• outside the planning process (eg ecclesiastical development, coastal erosion, agriculture, forestry and countryside management, works by public utilities and statutory undertakers)
• within a programme of research not generated by a specific threat to the archaeological resource
• in connection with management plans and mitigation strategies by private, local and national or international bodies

Excavation may therefore be instigated or commissioned by a number of different individuals or organisations, including local planning authorities, national advisory bodies, government agencies, private landowners, developers or their agents, archaeological researchers, etc.

En septiembre de 2004, el Instituto of Field Archæologists (UK) publicado a una guía para la gestión de los vestigios y archivos arqueológicos en caso de siniestro y/o de catástrofes naturales.

Tales herramientas son indispensables a todas las instituciones que trabajan en el ámbito cultural (principalmente las instituciones que poseen bajo su responsabilidad bodegas de material arqueológico o los archivos de los proyectos de investigación). En un país como Ecuador, expone a posibles catástrofes (vulcanismo, inundaciones, terremoto, etc.), es esencial que las instituciones culturales reflexionan y establezcan planes de protección y gestión de los riesgos.

La publicación del Instituto of Field Archæologists propone también soluciones a las empresas u organizaciones privadas que acogen temporalmente bienes culturales por restauración, conservación, inventarios... Esto que no debe aplicarse mecánicamente. Deben adaptar le al país, al organismo, y a los conocimientos técnicos y a los conocimientos de sus miembros.

La guía de Gestión de los vestigios arqueológicos en caso de siniestro enumera, punto por punto, los requisitos previos necesaria para el establecimiento de un plan de gestión así que los métodos y procedimientos que deben seguirse en tales casos. No propone soluciones único, clé-en-main. Las ideas y soluciones presentadas deben adaptarse al tamaño de las reservas, al tamaño de las instituciones y a los riesgos incurridos en a fin de ser seguras que éstas mejor estén adaptadas a cada situaciones encontradas.

Más...
Descargar la Guía de Gestión de los archivos arqueológicos en caso de siniestro [PDF] (en inglés)

The standard and guidance for archaeological field evaluation was formally adopted as IFA approved practice at the Annual General Meeting of the Institute held on 14 October 1994.

The Standard
An archaeological field evaluation will determine, as far as is reasonably possible, the nature of the archaeological resource within a specified area using appropriate methods and practices. These will satisfy the stated aims of the project, and comply with the Code of conduct, Code of approved practice for the regulation of contractual arrangements in field archaeology, and other relevant by-laws of the IFA.

Definition of field evaluation
The definition of archaeological field evaluation is a limited programme of non-intrusive and/or intrusive fieldwork which determines the presence or absence of archaeological features, structures, deposits, artefacts or ecofacts within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or underwater. If such archaeological remains are present field evaluation defines their character, extent, quality and preservation, and enables an assessment of their worth in a local, regional, national or international context as appropriate.

Purpose of field evaluation
The purpose of field evaluation is to gain information about the archaeological resource within a given area or site (including its presence or absence, character, extent, date, integrity, state of preservation and quality), in order to make an assessment of its merit in the appropriate context, leading to one or more of the following:

• the formulation of a strategy to ensure the recording, preservation or management of the resource
• the formulation of a strategy to mitigate a threat to the archaeological resource
• the formulation of a proposal for further archaeological investigation within a programme of research

Occurrence
A field evaluation may arise:

• in response to a proposed development which threatens the archaeological resource
• as part of the planning process (within the framework of appropriate national planning policy guidance notes and/or development plan policy)
• as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (see 3.1.7 below)
• outside the planning process (eg ecclesiastical development, coastal erosion, agriculture, forestry and countryside management, works by public utilities and statutory undertakers)
• within a programme of research not generated by a specific threat to the archaeological resource
• in connection with the preparation of management plans by private, local or national and international bodies

An archaeological field evaluation may therefore be instigated or commissioned by a number of different individuals or organisations, including local planning authorities, national advisory bodies, government agencies, private landowners, developers or their agents, archaeological researchers, etc.

The standard and guidance for archaeological desk-based assessment was formally adopted as IFA approved practice at the Annual General Meeting of the Institute held on 14 October 1994.

The Standard
A desk-based assessment will determine, as far as is reasonably possible from existing records, the nature of the archaeological resource within a specified area. It will be undertaken using appropriate methods and practices which satisfy the stated aims of the project, and which comply with the Code of conduct, Code of approved practice for the regulation of contractual arrangements in field archaeology, and other relevant by-laws of the IFA.

Definition of desk-based assessment
The definition of desk-based assessment is a programme of assessment of the known or potential archaeological resource within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or underwater. It consists of a collation of existing written, graphic, photographic and electronic information in order to identify the likely character, extent, quality and worth of the known or potential archaeological resource in a local, regional, national or international context as appropriate.

Purpose of desk-based assessment
The purpose of desk-based assessments is to gain information about the known or potential archaeological resource within a given area or site (including the presence or absence, character and extent, date, integrity, state of preservation and relative quality of the potential archaeological resource), in order to make an assessment of its merit in context, leading to one or more of the following:

• the formulation of a strategy to ensure the recording, preservation or management of the resource
• the formulation of a strategy for further investigation, whether or not intrusive, where the character and value of the resource is not sufficiently defined to permit a mitigation strategy or other response to be devised
• the formulation of a proposal for further archaeological investigation within a programme of research

Occurrence
Desk-based assessment arise:

• in response to a proposed development which threatens the archaeological resource
• as part of the planning process (within the framework of appropriate national planning policy guidance notes) and/or development plan policy
• as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) (see 3.1.7 below)
• outside the planning process (eg ecclesiastical development, coastal erosion, agriculture, forestry and countryside management, works by public utilities and statutory undertakers)
• within a programme of research not generated by a specific threat to the archaeological resource
• in connection with the preparation of management plans by private, local, national or international bodies

Desk-based assessment may therefore be instigated or commissioned by a number of different individuals or organisations, including local planning authorities, national advisory bodies, government agencies, private landowners, developers or their agents, archaeological researchers etc.