21st August 2009, 09:47 AM
Apologies to Gary for turning this thread into something else entirely!
For what it's worth - in my opinion wages are so low partially because people do the job out of love and genuine enthusiasm and every year a generation of fresh-faced and very eager people come along so desparately keen to do the job that they don't worry too much about the long-term implications of the piss-poor salary and conditions. They would probably do it for nothing if someone gave them food and shelter.
Anyway, before too long they realise that their keen-ness is being exploited and they are in a vicious circle. They either get out, or just have to live with it knowing full well that a new generation of people willing to sleep on their friend's sofas/live with their parents till they are 40/live in a tent is fast coming along.
Competative tendering is just the worst form of tendering when you have people willing to work for love of the job, because they are always going to get shafted as a result. Add on the fact that in many cases you could easily supplement the paid work force with volunteers and you have a bit of a career development disaster on your hands.
Archaeology is still quite a young profession compared to similar areas, especially similar areas associated with construction, and it hasn't quite escaped from the mentality of student training digs in many cases. Plus as someone pointed out, you need a lot more archaeologists than you need field geologists on most projects so it we were all getting paid ?30k it wouldn't be long before the planning guidance notes were radically changed!
For what it's worth - in my opinion wages are so low partially because people do the job out of love and genuine enthusiasm and every year a generation of fresh-faced and very eager people come along so desparately keen to do the job that they don't worry too much about the long-term implications of the piss-poor salary and conditions. They would probably do it for nothing if someone gave them food and shelter.
Anyway, before too long they realise that their keen-ness is being exploited and they are in a vicious circle. They either get out, or just have to live with it knowing full well that a new generation of people willing to sleep on their friend's sofas/live with their parents till they are 40/live in a tent is fast coming along.
Competative tendering is just the worst form of tendering when you have people willing to work for love of the job, because they are always going to get shafted as a result. Add on the fact that in many cases you could easily supplement the paid work force with volunteers and you have a bit of a career development disaster on your hands.
Archaeology is still quite a young profession compared to similar areas, especially similar areas associated with construction, and it hasn't quite escaped from the mentality of student training digs in many cases. Plus as someone pointed out, you need a lot more archaeologists than you need field geologists on most projects so it we were all getting paid ?30k it wouldn't be long before the planning guidance notes were radically changed!