17th July 2011, 09:44 PM
It does seem to be giving the message -
However, I do worry that fewer archaeologists = fewer people to work with local groups = fewer archaeologists and so the end result is we become a hobby. not a profession.
The skills gap has been a bout for years now, and it is also due to undercutting, lack of training and cheap labour... ie you can pay a ten year digger the same as a 6 month newbie. so why would the ten month digger stay? and you will alsways have the 6 month digger to call on... after all.... profits are slim...
Hmmmmm we don't rely on volunteers we enjoy their involvement to enhance archaeology - there is perhaps a confusion between commercial archaeology and research archaeology. I work with perhaps 200 + volunteers a year - doing fun, research archaeology well... only done well because of professional archaeologists who know what they are doing, and can advise and train. and write the reports etc... I was recently informed by one funding group that they would not be able to pay for my supervision.. --- sorry but this is my job! --- they would however pay for specialists to look at finds etc... oh... the insult! A field archaeologist is obviously not a specialist then.
Lots to discuss here. perhaps some navel gazing, but perhaps some constructive self awareness will be good.
We need the public support and we have to open up... but how?
However, I do worry that fewer archaeologists = fewer people to work with local groups = fewer archaeologists and so the end result is we become a hobby. not a profession.
The skills gap has been a bout for years now, and it is also due to undercutting, lack of training and cheap labour... ie you can pay a ten year digger the same as a 6 month newbie. so why would the ten month digger stay? and you will alsways have the 6 month digger to call on... after all.... profits are slim...
Hmmmmm we don't rely on volunteers we enjoy their involvement to enhance archaeology - there is perhaps a confusion between commercial archaeology and research archaeology. I work with perhaps 200 + volunteers a year - doing fun, research archaeology well... only done well because of professional archaeologists who know what they are doing, and can advise and train. and write the reports etc... I was recently informed by one funding group that they would not be able to pay for my supervision.. --- sorry but this is my job! --- they would however pay for specialists to look at finds etc... oh... the insult! A field archaeologist is obviously not a specialist then.
Lots to discuss here. perhaps some navel gazing, but perhaps some constructive self awareness will be good.
We need the public support and we have to open up... but how?