22nd August 2006, 11:17 AM
Having just read through this topic, I seem to be on the side of those who believe that commercial archaeology should not be routinely using volunteers. This is particularly the case if an unscrupulous unit is charging their client for experienced archaeologists, and filling the site with volunteers.
Recent graduates/students trying to break into the profession should not have to be forced into slave labour to gain their digging experience. On commercial jobs where time and money is tight, they will invariably be pushed to one side and given menial tasks anyway. Units should have a trainee position available on a lower wage and endeavour to train them properly. It is an investment in the long run, you train up a new member of staff at a trainee wage, then take them on at a proper salary when they have shown themselves to be suitably qualified.
They are however, a species of volunteer who do not want to be paid. People from the local community who commendably have an interest in their local heritage want to get involved. It is somewhat churlish of a group of archies to turn up in a town they have never visited before, dig up all their dead Romans, eat all the cake and leg it, while maintaining an air of superiority over the locals whose history they are digging up. Archaeology still falls somewhere between two stools; a professional commercial venture and a hobby. As such, wherever possible the local community should be involved in the process. Open days are by far the best way to do this, and offer great publicity for the developer. However, on larger projects, there may be time to take on a few volunteers. They often have a great repository of local knowledge, which you would never find in the SMR, and it makes you look clever when you nick it and put it in your report.
The issue of volunteer led-digs being carried out by local history groups is yet another matter. Like commercial units, the groups i have worked with differ massively in ability/knowledge/dedication/organisation etc. I have been on some great sites with local history groups, who have realised their limitations and employed a 'professional' to lead their excavations. Such jobs give you the rare opportunity to work with enthusiastic people, and to do a proper job. You often get good cake too.
Recent graduates/students trying to break into the profession should not have to be forced into slave labour to gain their digging experience. On commercial jobs where time and money is tight, they will invariably be pushed to one side and given menial tasks anyway. Units should have a trainee position available on a lower wage and endeavour to train them properly. It is an investment in the long run, you train up a new member of staff at a trainee wage, then take them on at a proper salary when they have shown themselves to be suitably qualified.
They are however, a species of volunteer who do not want to be paid. People from the local community who commendably have an interest in their local heritage want to get involved. It is somewhat churlish of a group of archies to turn up in a town they have never visited before, dig up all their dead Romans, eat all the cake and leg it, while maintaining an air of superiority over the locals whose history they are digging up. Archaeology still falls somewhere between two stools; a professional commercial venture and a hobby. As such, wherever possible the local community should be involved in the process. Open days are by far the best way to do this, and offer great publicity for the developer. However, on larger projects, there may be time to take on a few volunteers. They often have a great repository of local knowledge, which you would never find in the SMR, and it makes you look clever when you nick it and put it in your report.
The issue of volunteer led-digs being carried out by local history groups is yet another matter. Like commercial units, the groups i have worked with differ massively in ability/knowledge/dedication/organisation etc. I have been on some great sites with local history groups, who have realised their limitations and employed a 'professional' to lead their excavations. Such jobs give you the rare opportunity to work with enthusiastic people, and to do a proper job. You often get good cake too.