Is there a Heritage Community?

[Brochfael]

A question for wiser heads than mine...

To what extent may the archaeological profession and the Heritage industry be grouped together as a "Heritage community"?

Singer of dodgy songs, teller of tall stories, maker of pretty things and prehistoric performer.

[BAJR Host]

Don't mention the Federation

"Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage."
Niccolo Machiavelli

[kevin wooldridge]

Community.....is that something to do with communism? Or was that the thing that Margaret Thatcher claimed she had abolished. Or was that society.

On a serious point there is of course an archaeological community, but you would have to be in it to know it existed. From my own perspective it equals 'comfort-zone'.....

With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...

[Wibblehead]

There are lots of groups in archaeology, and for many and varied different reasons they generally don't talk. There are exceptions of course, but in my experience very few people will talk willingly.

I'm not sure many people would feel part of a wider heritage community. Do they? :face-huh: My perspective might be a bit different, because I work with many different facets (community archaeologist), so I am aware there is a wider 'heritage community'. But i know some groups do feel isolated.

I think Kevin's point about knowing that the community exists is a very important one. It sometimes feels like it's a clique full of cliques... ie public and private, professional and amateur. People within the different groups i think talk very well, but there are often problems communicating between groups.







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Thunder rolled. ... It rolled a six.

[angi]

I think that it can take a while to find too; but once you have, Kevin has pretty much summed it up as a comfort zone.

I do think that there's a combined heritage community: Once you've worked for a unit or two and kept in touch with people who've moved on to others and got to know people from other areas such as SMRs, archives and PASs etc. and maybe spent time with amature groups, you realise that you are all pretty much working towards the same thing and it's handy to have a bunch of people to call when you need to know something!

It's a pretty small world and you bump into people time and time again (which can get scary). I have seen cliques and rivalry but I try to steer clear of them and stick to the goodies, and there are plenty of them :face-approve:

[troll]

I suppose it depends on the definition of community. I also think that it would be a mistake to see the heritage profession as a non-community simply on the basis that we can`t agree on anything!

If the truth be known, the diversity of disciplines and opinions makes for a vibrant and dynamic community. I would argue that any community (however you choose to define it) is made up of individuals that tend to huddle in groups of likeminded members. Those groups essentially make up the community.

Angi hit the nail on the head when she points out that we are all essentially working towards the same thing. Of course, the success of any "community" depends on one simple foundation-that of communication.

I believe that communities tend to fail and fragment when hierarchical systems evolve and the listening stops. When one or more of those huddled groupings decides to speak for the entire community without mandate. As the heritage profession incorporates such a diversity of disciplines and, is essentially geographically divorced, communication is even more essential now than it ever has been. Is this where the beauty of the internet comes to the fore? Interestingly, we seem to have replicated our primal group huddles in the form of a multitude of heritage related websites.

Wouldn`t it be nice if we could pool our human resources together when it is most needed? The impending changes or replacements to PPGs for example? What about the (unmentionable) Federation idea? Couldn`t this be a rallying point to which we all muster in times of peril?

If indeed we are all (ish) working towards the same (ish) goals, then we should rally together as a community regardless of any real or perceived alliances/allegiances that appear to muddy the water. We do all dance to different tunes-granted but when needed, communities can all step forwards at the same time!:face-huh:

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)