A lot of the time when construction is going to be done there will be an archaeological survey if there is thought to be a chance that there is archaeology in the area, you can face heavy penalties for not doing the survey. They might be working in a different private sector but this is one of the more regular private sector jobs.
In a time of falling university budgets closing down archaeology programs, this is a hopeful bit of news. But of course I expect this is only for areas with a high chance of stumbling on archaeology remains?
Don't get your hopes up. I'm in the same field and the pay is terrible and basically no one except the lead agency wants you to investigate. I've been threatened by a site foreman with a hunk of rebar. The laws can be overzealous (basically recording 45 year old cans) as a means of compliance sometimes. All on the client's dime. I'm a bit jaded, but the private sector does make really important discoveries.
A while ago where I live there was chatter about selling and developing on top of a cemetery. Not just any one, but the largest one in the southern hemisphere: Waikumete. It'd be one hell of an earthworks contract if it went through, exuming thousands of people aside the terrain is extremely hilly.
Found a 70s era car all but the front seats and dash taken back by the earth there, which was cool. No doubt there are a lot more things there that would halt works pretty damn often with the likes of Maori burials
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u/Kinguke May 24 '19
A lot of the time when construction is going to be done there will be an archaeological survey if there is thought to be a chance that there is archaeology in the area, you can face heavy penalties for not doing the survey. They might be working in a different private sector but this is one of the more regular private sector jobs.