19th February 2012, 06:22 PM
I did look at the Wessex advert and they are not archaeology positions and they say commission will be paid on the signing of a contract. (don't know what that means). That being said there should never be volunteers working on a commercial project except if they are doing things that would not be done as part of the normal commercial work. There is an extremely fine line between providing opportunities for volunteers and exploitation. I do know of cases where amatuer archaeologists desperate for opportunities in real archaeology find themselves being used to shift wheel barrows rather than being given training and the real experience they thought they were going to get. And no I did not report these incidences as the info was second hand.
I am an experienced archeaologist hanging on in the profession by the skin of my teeth and It really does my head in to know that where as a paid job is hard to find I could work every day of the week as a volunteer and organisations would fall over themselves to have me do it.
Amateurs and recent graduates alike should ask themselves if the volunteer work they are doing is a vital part of a commercial project. If it is they are being exploited.
I am an experienced archeaologist hanging on in the profession by the skin of my teeth and It really does my head in to know that where as a paid job is hard to find I could work every day of the week as a volunteer and organisations would fall over themselves to have me do it.
Amateurs and recent graduates alike should ask themselves if the volunteer work they are doing is a vital part of a commercial project. If it is they are being exploited.