This year we are trialing the ARK with a standard issue package supplied by LP Archaeology, just to road test what it would mean in terms of our work flows, and the benefits for our off-site venturers.

Having played around this year, I think we certainly can do it – and think that by this time next year we will be in a position to effectively crowdsource the post-ex through our venturer community. This is still at the development/funding stage for us, but I’m confident it will be done – the technology’s there.

Everyone can use the ARK who knows how to fill in a context sheet – the only difference is the interface. The record still gets checked off by the trench supervisor/director. This can then be ‘reinterpreted’ by anyone on the network with read/write access, or embedded as a hotlink in any social media or site narrative.

We are using a paper archive at the moment as our primary record – but I think this is something we can all eventually dispense with.

All the best, Brendon