21st September 2012, 09:14 AM
I work in a country (Norway) where the weather limits the amount of field work that can be done in any calendar year. Basically mid-November to March is written off apart from very exceptional circumstances. As a result field archaeologists have had to adapt to a situation where work cannot be guaranteed for a full 12 months of the year by acquiring additional skills that enable them to be employed in different capacities during the down time or quite often in different careers (locum teachers, care assistants, shop workers, bar and catering staff, cleaners, full time parents etc etc). I wonder why more UK archaeologists don't follow this route and maximise the amount of time they can spend as an archaeologist, but back it up with another profession to fill in down time. It may pay, as Callippedes suggests not to limit your ambitions merely to the field of archaeology....
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...