14th February 2006, 05:19 PM
Merc, you specifically described "50 something ex-policemen and teachers". I might add that I am not 50 something (yet) and nor am I a policeman or a teacher.
However, the point is that wages in any field are at a given level because someone will do it for that rate: it is the going rate, as they say. If someone will do it for nothing, that's life. Personally, my gut feeling is that a skilled field archaeologist with about 3 year's experience is "worth" about 400 a week, maybe 500, taking a "world" view. But, as you can get them for under 300, who is going to pay more? Regrettably I can suggest no easy (or even difficult) answer.
We owe the dead nothing but the truth.
However, the point is that wages in any field are at a given level because someone will do it for that rate: it is the going rate, as they say. If someone will do it for nothing, that's life. Personally, my gut feeling is that a skilled field archaeologist with about 3 year's experience is "worth" about 400 a week, maybe 500, taking a "world" view. But, as you can get them for under 300, who is going to pay more? Regrettably I can suggest no easy (or even difficult) answer.
We owe the dead nothing but the truth.