15th May 2008, 08:52 PM
I don't want to derail a very interesting discussion, but feel the need to respond to some of Gary's comments.
Gary I don't recognize your portrayal of archaeologists at all. Sure, there is snobbery in the profession, and perhaps you encounter more than your share because you represent the detecting community that seems to bring out extreme reactions from some archaeologists. In my experence what little snobbery there is left in archaeology tends to be in the more academic sectors. I don't think it is any worse in archaeology than in other professions in a country with a (declining) class system.
Some of this I can agree with, but not for the reasons you may believe. I think you may be surprised by what the public feels about archaeology. It regularly ranks second only to nursing in surveys of jobs respected by the public. There certainly doesn't suggest widespread resentment at wasted public money. In fact I think the public would be genuinely surprised at how little public money is spent on archaeological excavations. What resentment I encounter comes from the private developers who fund most of my work, and only a small minority of them.
By the way, I would love to see the results of any survey you do Gary.
Gary I don't recognize your portrayal of archaeologists at all. Sure, there is snobbery in the profession, and perhaps you encounter more than your share because you represent the detecting community that seems to bring out extreme reactions from some archaeologists. In my experence what little snobbery there is left in archaeology tends to be in the more academic sectors. I don't think it is any worse in archaeology than in other professions in a country with a (declining) class system.
Quote:quote:You also need to realize that the public (when public money is used) want to know were that money is going and to what benefit it is to them.
Some of this I can agree with, but not for the reasons you may believe. I think you may be surprised by what the public feels about archaeology. It regularly ranks second only to nursing in surveys of jobs respected by the public. There certainly doesn't suggest widespread resentment at wasted public money. In fact I think the public would be genuinely surprised at how little public money is spent on archaeological excavations. What resentment I encounter comes from the private developers who fund most of my work, and only a small minority of them.
By the way, I would love to see the results of any survey you do Gary.