Hi! This is my first post on here and I am particularly interested in this topic being a finds specialist.
I think that yes, experience is certainly a big issue in this area, especially the more specialised you become. A general finds assistant post is pretty straightforward - processing, basic quantification and identification, basic conservation, packaging up the material and ensuring it is all stored correctly until ready for transfer to the appropriate receiving museum. However, progressing to the next level involves becoming aware of many different groups of material and more often than not, developing a particular specialism. This is the bit that takes time and often stalls progression from the assistant to 'specialist' or 'Finds Officer' posts.
I'm afraid that I have to disagree with the 'concrete ceilings' analogy that Digger gives. There are definately the opportunities to progress - you only need to have looked at BAJR over the past couple of months to see that there are jobs around! However, as with virtually all branches of archaeology, in order to move up you often have to move units for these opportunities - a unit can't keep employing more and more specialists if the work isn't there. If you promote one who has progressed beyond an assistant level, then you will have a vacancy that needs to filled there as well and so it goes on - it's just not sustainable in a commercial environment. I think there are probably very few of us on here that haven't had to move for a better oppotunity at least once in our career, whatever branch we have chosen.
Perhaps one of the reasons why 'established' specialists don't move on once they are in a post, is that once you get into a specific specialism, your work often takes on a very regionally based slant, making it difficult to move between areas and remain at the same level of expertise.
In response to the initial question - there is a definate lack of money going into the career. If you look at the profile many of the specialist groups eg. Roman and medieval pottery research groups, you will see that the profession is definately 'top-heavy' with many on the verge of retirement and few younger, new people entering. Many ideas are being put forward in attempt to address this - too detailed to go into here but having sat on a few different committees, I can safely say that specialists are aware of the issue and are attempting to address it.
Anyway, think I've gone on long enough but I just wanted to make a few points in response to some of those made below.
Looking forward to posting again soon
M
