16th December 2009, 12:54 PM
Is there a move afoot to set up a chartered institute/body for archaeology and its affiliated professions, as is the convention for many other professions? I guess it would be problematic, mainly due to actually getting the assent - but also due to public and personal professional indemnity issues, costs of subscribing, and the "critical mass" needed to ensure its success, etc, etc, but would it not be useful for one and all to be represented and representative by charter? Though it is not a panacea for remedying the ills plaguing our pay and conditions, it might make a difference to how others view and deal with the archaeological and affiliated professions - if we intend to rely on certain aspects of the economy to keep us in work for the forseeable future. Often those who contract us have their own chartered institutes/bodies representing them, so why not us to be on an equal footing? And this federation is the place to start the ball rolling, absolutely.
"The world can only be grasped by action, not by contemplation". (Jacob Bronowski)