Page 49 - Manual for Activities directed at the Underwater Cultural Heritage

are embedded. Only such staff is geared to guarantee the best possible standards of recording and docu- mentation.
Competence and qualification, and the details of recording, reporting and documentation are dealt with in Chapters VII, IX and XII respectively. Rule 6 emphasizes that all these aspects must be regulated and thereby formulates an obligation for the competent authority, defined by Article 22 of the Convention. The competent authority is requested to verify that strict regulations apply in view of ensuring the quality of archaeological work and in view of documentation and preservation of the results obtained throughout the activity.
Archaeology is a cumulative discipline. This means that results from very different endeavours build up to form a consistent body of information. Conventions that facilitate comparison of data gathered under different circumstances have developed for the des- cription, illustration and drawing of phenomena. Such conventions have developed into professional standards. The competent authority is responsible for ensuring that strict and equal standards are adhered to. In many instances, the standards evolve from combinations of government directives and professional guidelines, which are referred to in permits and authorizations.
Detailed regulations and comprehensive systems of quality control have been developed in different contexts. International comparison shows, however, that much consensus exists. The most detailed re- gulations do perhaps apply in those instances where archaeological interventions are tendered out to service providers, especially in systems where in the context of development-led archaeology, the developer acts as client. Very detailed regulations do then apply in order to check competition and balance the market. In other systems, internal directives may suffice. Nevertheless, it is striking how much conformity there actually is in guidelines that govern fieldwork execution. Rule 6 simply indicates that proper recording of cultural, historical
In authorizing activities directed at underwater cultural heritage, the Competent Authority:
• sets the standards,
• demands competent
and qualified staff,
and
• regulates the
standards of documentation.
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General Principles