5th January 2012, 11:19 PM
Hi Kel, I'm not suggesting blacklists, or sacking people (I've been there, I know what it takes from the sharp end), far from it. I'm talking about creating a culture where doing the job well is the norm, where people do the job they are paid (properly) to do. Not a situation where poor archaeologists are tolerated and paid peanuts. The two things go together in my mind.
Its not necessarily the fault of the archaeologist, too often there is no effective training or support. That is what I want to change. Its what my TAG paper was about, solving the problem of deskilling and disenfranchisement. Hopefully a summary of it is being published soon so you can see what I am talking about in more detail. Its part of a complete change in attitude, drawing a line and admitting past faults and getting it right from now on.
I've seen too many very good and committed archaeologists leave archaeology, and see too many lazy and poor archaeologists still in it, at all grades. Often they don't know how bad they actually are.
There is nothing wrong with being good at a job, and Archaeology is a great job too be good at.
Its not necessarily the fault of the archaeologist, too often there is no effective training or support. That is what I want to change. Its what my TAG paper was about, solving the problem of deskilling and disenfranchisement. Hopefully a summary of it is being published soon so you can see what I am talking about in more detail. Its part of a complete change in attitude, drawing a line and admitting past faults and getting it right from now on.
I've seen too many very good and committed archaeologists leave archaeology, and see too many lazy and poor archaeologists still in it, at all grades. Often they don't know how bad they actually are.
There is nothing wrong with being good at a job, and Archaeology is a great job too be good at.