How about doing your field work in metric or English but then when
you publish giving all signficant measurements in both (  ) and using a
combined scale or two separate scales in all published photos. A bit of
work but it would make everyone happy. Also, there are some journals,
I think the Journal of Field Archaeology is one (?), that require
metric in its articles.

                                        RLS




At 01:38 PM 6/1/2001 -0400, you wrote:
>Jim's argument is blatantly Ameri-centric, and also ignores the fact that
>many states require the use of the metric system (the Pennsylvania
>Department of Transportation, for example).  In the era of the internet and
>world-wide e-publishing, it is ridiculous to be arguing that we should
>forego English for metric, because Americans can only understand English.  I
>personally hope that my work is being read beyond the US, and I would like
>Candadian or European or whatever readers to be able to understand my
>measurements without needing a conversion chart.
>
>It does not matter which type of ruler you use, all responsible
>archaeologists should consistently include both measurement systems in their
>reports.  If everybody did this, metric vs. English would be a non-issue for
>archaeologists.
>
>Chris Espenshade
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: James G. Gibb [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: Friday, June 01, 2001 1:09 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: centimeter scales
>
>
>Mike's point regarding the units of measure used by the people we study
>is well taken, but I add a fundamental and inescapable fact overlooked
>by those retorting that we might use cubits as well: rank and file
>Americans predominantly use English standard. Throwing metric
>measurements at engineers in technical reports or at readers of
>newspaper and historical society journal articles mystifies rather than
>enlightens. And it is not the job of archaeologists to convert US
>citizens to an international system of measurement. Now, should the
>powers at large want to talk about increasing funding, pay, and benefits
>for archaeologists, then perhaps there is room for negotiation.
>Jim Gibb
>Annapolis, MD
>
>
Robert L. Schuyler
University of Pennsylvania Museum
33rd & Spruce Streets
Philadelphia, PA l9l04-6324

Tel: (215) 898-6965
Fax: (215) 898-0657
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