6th November 2010, 05:07 PM
Well I seem to have opened a can of worms with my 'Catch 22' article even if it is an old can of worms. I have seen many good suggestions in this debate. Personally I think commercial units should be linked to University degree courses and it should be made VERY clear to potential students of archaeology at their university interviews, that to be a commercial archaeologist involves much more than academic ability. Perhaps the best way forward is for some of the university fees paid should be used to fund the training of students within commercial units, instead of (or as well as) providing field schools provided by their own academic staff. Particularly, as the compulsive field school training element on a degree course is often paid on top of the normal tuition fees.
With the increase of tuition fees, it seems a reasonable outcome. If the training situation does not change soon, especially in this financial climate, not only will we lose our University Archaeology Departments, possibly for good, we will also lose a qualified and skilled workforce to manage our heritage which may have far reaching implications in other sectors such as tourism and construction. The introduction of a 'digging charter' is definitely a good start. Don't the Archaeology Departments of our University's realise that they need to get their heads out of the sand now, or they may not have any students left to teach and then their own jobs will be on the line!
With the increase of tuition fees, it seems a reasonable outcome. If the training situation does not change soon, especially in this financial climate, not only will we lose our University Archaeology Departments, possibly for good, we will also lose a qualified and skilled workforce to manage our heritage which may have far reaching implications in other sectors such as tourism and construction. The introduction of a 'digging charter' is definitely a good start. Don't the Archaeology Departments of our University's realise that they need to get their heads out of the sand now, or they may not have any students left to teach and then their own jobs will be on the line!