In defense of Gibb (who can defend himself quite well), here are random
pomposities from a recent report by a major CRM firm. Because I don't want
to get personal, my friend who signed the report will remain anonymous.

These are some of the worst:

        "Spatial and techno-typological analyses
        conducted by excavators identified activity
        clusters largely in plow zone contexts."

        "Oak was the predominant woody material
        represented in charcoal throughout
        the site, ..."

        "Evidence of the heat treatment of certain
        cryptocrystalline artifacts as a variation
        in knapping technology was implied by analysis
        of the distribution of burned artifacts among
        the two assemblages."

This zinger apparently was intended to explain an archaeological concept
for the non-specialist reader:

        "Botanical recovery is of use to archaeologists
        in inferring potential environments and
        subsistence practices."

These specimens all came from a two-volume published report with glossy
color pictures, produced by a major firm for a very influential client. It
has been heralded as one of the more reader-friendly products in a new wave
of popular, readable, reports.

This is popular and readable writing?

Maybe some client, federal agency or SHPO, will someday reject a report,
just because it is impossible to read and comprehend.

Don't hold your breath.

On the other hand, some recent contract reports are eminently readable. I
was able to stay awake through most of Berger's report on the Department of
Justice metropolitan detention facility in Philadelphia. Sentences are
active and the terminology is elegantly spare. Illustrations and their
captions actually convey information, which is something of a radical
departure from the norm. My only quibble is with the separate numbering of
pages by chapter, but overall it is a much more suitable model to follow.



      _____
 ____(_____)__
  |Baby the\
  |1969 Land\__===_      Baby has a new set of sand ladders!
  |  ___Rover   ___|o    Bring on the mud!
  |_/ . \______/ . ||
  ___\_/________\_/____________________________________________
  Ned Heite, Camden, DE  http://home.dmv.com/~eheite/index.html