29th March 2005, 06:19 PM
What you describe sounds more like a pressure group than a professional institution. The IFA may not be perfect but it's all there is and it is the only body likely to become a prof. inst. It has a head start and is lobbying for chartered status, which is necessary to become a "profession." A rival group will at best do nothing, at worst discredit archaeology as a divided, disorganised, unprofessional field. Errr.....
One big problem is the unrealistic expectations of what a professional institute is and what it does.
A second major problem is the undermining of the concept of professionalism in general since the 80's. Commercial archaeology is not strictly a professional activity: it is a tender based contracting activity - the same as a building contractor (which is why they're called contractors).
One big problem is the unrealistic expectations of what a professional institute is and what it does.
A second major problem is the undermining of the concept of professionalism in general since the 80's. Commercial archaeology is not strictly a professional activity: it is a tender based contracting activity - the same as a building contractor (which is why they're called contractors).