Published permission of the DGFU

English Abstracts of the German Journal

ARCHÄOLOGISCHE Informationen

Volume 21/2, 1998

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ur- und Frühgeschichte

(DGFU)

(German Union of Prehistory and Early History)

RICHTER, Jürgen

Archaeology as a Branch of Business: An Introduction. (Archäologie als Branche? - Ein Grußwort) ..… 213-214

This 1998 theme focuses on contract archaeology, a predictable outcome, given the social development of the 1990's, when the key words are globalization, privatization, and market economy. The theme might as well be Archaeology as Business, or Archaeological resources as common product of competing businesses.

We used to view our selves as a small social group, aiming to preserve and analyze the remains of long gone cultures. The new order gathers us into more or less three interest groups: Government officials, entrepreneurs, and workers in corporations. As such we must become reacquainted with each other.

However, all three groups share the fact that their work is legitimized through scientific necessity. In deed, cultural resource management makes sense only as long as it provides knowledge. This must be the aim if society is to take our work seriously.

Private Businesses and Cultural Resource Management: The Legal Perspective. (Private Unternehmen in der Bodendenkmalpflege. Die rechtswissenschaftliche Perspektive) ..… 215-223

In Germany the current debate focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of contract archaeology, run as a business, versus traditional government antiquities protection agencies run by the individual states.

The development of private contract archaeology firms and the establishment of the "Causation Principle" started in the 1980's and has spread to various states. The German reunification accelerated this process.

The "Causation Principle" is part of the environmental protection legislation. It requires that the cost of mitigating the environmental impact will be born by those who destroy the cultural resources. The resulting funds can be used for excavations by the preservation offices, but government funds (taxes) can also be used by contract firms.

The environmental impact legislation is still evolving. For example, the question under what circumstances a prospective home owner should pay for an archaeological survey, have not yet been resolved.

Both the private firms and the government agencies claim to do the job for less, but the arguments depend on what is included in the calculations. For example, the firms have to pay taxes, but are faster and more flexible. By contrast, the agencies are bound by more regulatory restrictions. They also must enforce standards (not necessarily applied to their own work). Functioning as watchdogs, the agencies reduce the manpower for their own excavations.

Reflections on Privatizing Cultural Resource Management and a Book Review of Janbernd Oebbecke (Ed.): Privatizing Cultural Resource Management. (Überlegungen zur Privatisierung in der Bodendenkmalpflege zugleich Besprechung des Buches Janbernd Oebbecke (Hrsg.): "Privatisierung in der Bodendenkmalpflege") ….. 225-229

In Germany privatizing government institutions, such as the cultural heritage offices is in. As a result, questioning the wisdom of a specific instance is politically incorrect. However, the state must ensure that interests of the people preserved. As a result a new government watchdog agency is created, resulting in an often rather emotional discussion of its regulatory effort.

Moving off Dead Center? The Causality Principle. (Kommt Bewegung in die Landschaft? - Das Verursacherprinzip in der Archäologie) ….. 231-237

Contract Archaeology Firms, State-Run Archaeology: Different Gudelines - Varying Results. (Firmenarchäologie- Landesarchäologie. Unterschiedliche Leitbilder - unterschiedliche Ergebnisse ….. 239-243

Contract Archaeology in Sweden: Excavations or Grave Robbery? (Kommerzielle Archäologie in Schweden - Ausgrabung oder Raubgrabung?) ….. 245-248

Between Trans-European Gasmains and Highways: The Beginning of Polish Contract Archaeology. (Zwischen transeuropäischer Gasleitung und Autobahntrasse. Die Anfänge der polnischen "Kontrakt-Archäologie") ….. 249-253

Archaeology after Implementation of the Causality Principle. (Archäologisches Arbeiten nach dem Verursacherprinzip in Brandenburg) ….. 255-267

Contract Archaeology - Competition or Necessity? (Kommerzielle Archäologie Konkurrenz oder Notwendigkeit?) ….. 269-272

Reports (Berichte)

What is the Meaning of Prehistoric Art? (Was bedeutet Prähistorische Kunst?) ….. 273-277

The Game Board on the Stone of Ockelbo. (Das Spielbrett auf dem Stein von Ockelbo) ….. 279-281

Five Years of "Wurzel Archäologie GmbH:" Founding and Development of a Cultural Resource Management Company. (Fünf Jahre "Wurzel Archäologie GmbH". Entstehung und Entwicklung einer Grabungsfachfirma) ….. 283-297

The Illusion of Owning the Past versus the Delusion of Patriarchy: Reseach of Matriarchy and Archaeology in Germany. ("Illusionäre Vergangenheitsaneignung" kontra "patriarchale Verblendung": Matriachatsforschung und Archäologie in Deutschland) ….. 299-313

Excavations in the Harbor Suburb of the Hanseatic City of Stralsund. (Die Ausgrabungen in der Hafenvorstadt der Hansestadt Stralsund) ….. 315-325

Prehistory and Early History in School Books I. (Ur- und Frühgeschichte im Schulbuch I) ….. 327

Worrisome Worsening for Archaeological Research. (Besorgniserregende Verschlechterungen für die archäologische Forschung) ….. 329-333

Archaeology: Training and Profession (Archäologie: Ausbildung und Beruf)

Questionnaire on the Employment Situation of Archaeologists with Completed Professional Degree. (Umfrage zur Berufssituation der im Fach Archäologie tätigen Mitglieder mit abgeschlossenem Fachstudium) ….. 335-341

WEBER, Thomas

Report on the Meeting of the Association for "Quantitative Methods" on June 6, 1998 in Dresden and on March 9-10 in Neubrandenburg. (Bericht über die Treffen der Arbeitsgemeinschaft "Quantitative Methoden in der Archäologie" am 6.3.1998 in Dresden und am 9./10.3.1998 in Neubrandenburg) ….. 343-344

Books (Bücher)

Some New Approaches to the Bell Beaker 'Phenomenon', Lost Paradise...? (Proceedings of the 2nd Meeting of the 'Association Archéologie et Gobelets', Feldberg (Germany), 18th-20th April 1997) (Dirk BRANDHERM) ….. 345-350 l

The Roman Farm by Büßlingen: A Contribution to the Settlement History of the Hegau. (Der römische Gutshof bei Büßlingen. Ein Beitrag zur Siedlungsgeschichte des Hegaus) (Ulrich BRANDL) ) ….. 351 -352 l

The Neolithic Town of Ehrenstein (Gemeinde Blaustein, Alb-Donaukreis). (Das jungsteinzeitliche Dorf Ehrenstein (Gemeinde Blaustein, Alb-Donaukreis) ) (Robert GANSLMEIER) ) ….. 353-359 l

Adventures in Gondwanaland und Neandertal: Prehistoric Motifs in the Literature and other Medias. (Abenteuer in Gondwanaland und Neandertal. Prähistorische Motive in der Literatur und anderen Medien) (Martin SALESCH) ) ….. 361-362 l

Mediaeval Leather Finds in Constance

(Mittelalterliche Lederfunde aus Konstanz) (Oliver SCHLEGEL) ) ….. 363-364 l

Rural Settlements in the Late Antique Period and the Middle Ages. (Ländliche Siedlungen zwischen Spätantike und Mittelalter)

(Rainer SCHREG) ….. 365-369 l

The Lost Atlantis: The Story of Solving an Old Puzzle. (Das verlorene Atlantis: Die Geschichte der Auflösung eines alten Rätsels) (Markus VOSTEEN) ….. 371 -377

Dissertations and Master Theses

Dissertationen & Magisterarbeiten

Studies on Children's Graves in the Late Hallstatt and Early Latène Period. (Studien zu Kindergräbern der Späthallstatt und Frühlatènezeit) ….. 379-382

A Contribution to the History of the City of Leipzig: Finds and Context of the Excavation at Hainstraße 12.

(Ein Beitrag zur Stadtgeschichte Leipzigs - Funde und Befunde der Ausgrabung Hainstraße 12) ) ….. 383-386

The Mesolithic in the Area of Trier.

(Das Mesolithikum im Trierer Land) ….. 387-391 l

The Hallstatt Culture and its Internal Differentiation: The West and East Regions from the Early Historical-Methodological Perspective.

(Die Hallstattkultur und ihre innere Differenzierung: West und Osthallstattkreis aus forschungsgeschichtlich-methodischer Perspektive) ….. 393-396

The Stone Artefacts of Salzgitter-Lebenstedt

(Die Steinartefakte von Salzgitter-Lebenstedt) ….. 397-398

DGUF-News (DGUF-Nachrichten)

(DGUF-Arbeitsgemeinschaft "Kommerzielle Archäologie") ….. 399

Notice to Authors. (Hinweise der Redaktion) ….. 401

  
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