26th September 2012, 08:00 PM
A couple of pages back a few folk seemed to be agreeing with the idea that one of the restraints on wage levels was that there were too many 'archaeologists'. Would anyone dare to agree that there may also be too many archaeological businesses out there as well?
It seems to me that when we start criticising those who dare to undercut the 'undercutters' then we are in a very sorry state of affairs. Surely no-one really believes that winning work at any price is conducive to creating a career structure. Further it surely breaks one of the main tenets of archaeological ethics in clearly being a less than satisfactory manner in which to undertake archaeological research and conservation (be that in situ or by record). So what is the bottom line? The lowest that anyone is willing to sink to maintain their job/business whatever!!
It seems to me that when we start criticising those who dare to undercut the 'undercutters' then we are in a very sorry state of affairs. Surely no-one really believes that winning work at any price is conducive to creating a career structure. Further it surely breaks one of the main tenets of archaeological ethics in clearly being a less than satisfactory manner in which to undertake archaeological research and conservation (be that in situ or by record). So what is the bottom line? The lowest that anyone is willing to sink to maintain their job/business whatever!!
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...