Page 161 - Manual for Activities directed at the Underwater Cultural Heritage
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the project would be publicized and when each form of dissemination would be used.
Contingency planning
Rule 21.
the project design shall include a con- tingency plan that will ensure conser- vation of underwater cultural heritage and supporting documentation in the event of any interruption or termination of the project.
Due to all the variables associated with an archaeological project, it is quite likely that a project will face some unforeseen circumstances that could result in its interruption or delay. Technical equipment that malfunctions or that is not delivered in time is a classic example. Underwater projects tend also to be extremely weather dependent and the weather may not be as predicted, for an extended period of time. During fieldwork, the excavators could, for example, come across unexpected materials that require conservation treatments that are not available on- site. This could result in the interruption of fieldwork, on-site conservation, finds processing, etc. However, the sooner such circumstances are realised and assessed, the easier it is to get the project back on schedule.
Most circumstances that impact the course of a project can be predicted and planned for to a certain extent, but others cannot. Contingency planning is about taking account of many risks that are likely to be incurred.
Project monitoring
To ensure that the timetable is adhered to and to detect any interruption that might occur in the project schedule, it is essential to carry out regular assessments for all project activities and tasks based on the original project plan and timetable. Therefore, detailed records of the time spent on project tasks should be kept by all team members and reported to the project director. It is also necessary to monitor
Project duration – timetable