6th January 2007, 10:15 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by BAJR Host
perhaps this is another push we can get into this year... TRAINING !! not just a few bursery positions... but a real scheme, a real standard and a real opportunity to learn...
Towards that end, wouldn't it be good to see an archaeological employer (and/or a professional body such as IFA or statutories such as EH/CADW/Historic Scotland) offering an incentive to experienced staff capable of offering hands-on training, to stay in the field. Many of the incentives in UK archaeology, (financial and 'job cache') seem geared towards getting a desk job as soon as decently possible.
I notice that the CBA are currently advertising a government initiative 'Culture/Arts/Heritage jobs Roadshow' touring the UK in next few months, fine in itself, but none of the 'hands-on' conservation posts appear to be for archaeological field specialisms. Seems that somewhere a message isn't getting through. There also has not been a single IFA/EH bursary (yet!!) for 'digging skills' although we all recognise that this area represents the majority of archaeological work and probably the largest number of available archaeological posts.
So Yes, once again it may have to be BAJR that sets the ball rolling on this as no-one else seems particularly inspired.
PS Am giving a talk on 'What to do and Where to go in archaeology after your University Library card has been cancelled' (largely inspired by BAJR), somewhere in Cambridge on Feb 14th.