19th April 2011, 03:16 PM
P Prentice Wrote:i'm not saying it shouldn't, and i'm not saying that its about being in charge, but for me its about being able to say something about us - im just wondering who wants to dig for the rest of their life without the opportunity of saying something?
That statement rather suggests a scenario where the excavators of the site do nothing but dig and every level of recording or interpretation or input into the site organisation, prioritisation and excavation process is decided top-down and passed from an elite to the 'ragged- trousered philantrophists' in the trenches.
Well whilst I am sure that someone will quote me chapter and verse on where that exact situation exists, surely the more usual and customary procedure is that lots of 'diggers' have the opportunity of input into the site organisation and through their recording into the final interpretation. My experience for example is that the vast majority of site staff create their own discrete sections of the site matrix, as well as making interpretive plans and observations.
Perhaps the level of responsibility is the difference. I think most experienced excavators would be happy up to the level of area supervisor (which itself often attracts a degree of post excavation work occasionally to full publication level). Its the step beyond that to project officer and the darker side of things where many 'diggers' draw the line.....(and I realise that in some organisations what I am calling a 'supervisor' might be called a project officer and vice versa, so hopefully no-one is too confused by my terminology....)....
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...