14th December 2005, 12:18 PM
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Well as the vast majority of us are professional, and most amateur archaeologists take leadership from the professional bodies, we dont have anything to fear. This isn't a hobby, it's a job.
Sorry Hugh, I didn't make my question very clear. It wasn't the amateur issue I was asking about. It concerned the huge financial investment that would have to be considered before any excavation could take place. Costs with respect to surveys, conservation etc. The convention allows that each Party should arrange necessary public funding for these projects, but I believe the costs would be prohibitive, thus reducing the number of 'digs' allowed, thus reducing the number of professionals required for the work.
Article 3 of the convention does worry amateur archaeologists. I have no idea of how the amateurs are perceived by the professionals among you, but I have always seen them as an integral part of the archaelogical community (I stand to be corrected on this) and have contributed a great deal to the understanding of our heritage. If the practice of amateur archaeologists were to be curtailed, would this not have an impact of archaeology in Britain as a whole?