18th July 2006, 02:29 PM
I largely agree with Dr Pete on this, and I had very similar experiences as a 'volunteer' on subsistence (i.e. very low paid worker with no rights) in the 1980s.
The key thing is that volunteers, where used, should be genuine volunteers - i.e. not people trying to earn a living through archaeology. Potential categories of genuine volunteer could include:
No commercial unit should ever rely on volunteers (or students) as a significant part of their workforce (poor professional practice and unfair commercial competition), but there is room for one or two on some sites - especially larger excavations - to provide opportunities for the second category listed above. For such volunteers, I would support the payment of actual out-of-pocket expenses, but never flat-rate subsistence payments; that way lies the old, exploitative system.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
The key thing is that volunteers, where used, should be genuine volunteers - i.e. not people trying to earn a living through archaeology. Potential categories of genuine volunteer could include:
- non-archaeologists with an amateur interest in archaeology
- people, usually but not always young, considering a career in archaeology but wanting a 'taster' before they commit
No commercial unit should ever rely on volunteers (or students) as a significant part of their workforce (poor professional practice and unfair commercial competition), but there is room for one or two on some sites - especially larger excavations - to provide opportunities for the second category listed above. For such volunteers, I would support the payment of actual out-of-pocket expenses, but never flat-rate subsistence payments; that way lies the old, exploitative system.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished