National Occupational Standards in
Archaeological Practice

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Unit AB2 Propose and agree project methods

AB2.2 Agree project methods

Performance Required

This will involve:

1. presenting and agreeing appropriate methods with the client
2. agreeing with the client a schedule that meets the project requirements and estimating associated time and costs
3. ensuring that the proposed project conforms with all relevant regulations and guidance.
4. obtaining any appropriate and necessary permissions or approvals for the proposed project design

Occupational Context

1. Methods:
   • documentary
   • statistical
   • comparative
   • experimental
   • investigative
2. Regulations and guidance:
   • planning regulations
   • policy and guidance
   • scheduled ancient monument status
   • designed landscape status
   • conservation area status
   • listed building status
   • non-statutory guidelines
3. Permissions or approval from:
   • client
   • site owner and occupiers
   • owner of artefacts
   • adjoining owners and occupiers
   • local / statutory authorities
   • professional bodies
   • public utilities
   • other notifiable authorities

Knowledge Requirements

You need to know and understand how to:

Planning projects

• Specifying, planning and scheduling site investigations in terms of:
  • Required investigation outcomes
  • Cost
  • Timescale

You need to know about:

Relevant regulation and guidance

Required Skills

You should demonstrate:

• How to obtain permissions and insurance
• How to carry out investigations according to the budget brief and agreed schedule
• How to commission investigations
• That investigations meet the requirements of the brief
• That data are complete, accurate and in an appropriate format
• How to seek expert advice
• How to collate, assess and interpret data
• How to prepare reports and assessments in suitable formats for circulation and discussion with interested parties
• How to accurately reference the report
• Compliance with health and safety regulations

Evidence Required

You must provide documentary evidence that you have:

• presented an investigation report that clearly indicates all relevant factors and any significant interactions between them and which states clearly the authority on which assessments, interpretations and recommendations have been made

You will produce supporting documentary evidence that, in doing so, you have:

• confirmed relevant permissions and insurances
• carried out and commissioned investigation of relevant factors relating to the site
• established that the scope and rigour of investigations¹ meet the requirements of the brief and verified that data are complete, accurate and in a clear format
• sought expert advice on specific issues identified as relevant to the investigation
• assessed and accurately interpreted data from investigations1 and identified and recorded findings, including opportunities and constraints

Evidence Rules

• Your evidence must be from the result of work activities carried out by yourself on at least two significant projects

1. This will include investigations carried out both by yourself and those commissioned from others.

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Today's date: 8/9/2008
This page last updated: 27/7/2007 16:17