4th September 2008, 11:29 AM
No doubt you have all come across Michael Heaton and his expositions on precisely Peter's theme. They have been published in The Archaeologist over the last few years and presented at the IFA conference.
You can read "W(h)ither the Profession" and "W(h)ither the Profession II" on his website...
http://www.archaeology.demon.co.uk/bibliography.htm
...I think there is a lot of value there, particularly his arguments that trainee (ie. undergraduate) archaeologists should have more rigorous training in professional matters (what is professionalism, how to set up and run a business etc.) as well as the basic mechanisms of developer funding. He is also right to point out the futility (and potential illegality in a free market) of aligning archaeological wages to public sector pay scales.
You can read "W(h)ither the Profession" and "W(h)ither the Profession II" on his website...
http://www.archaeology.demon.co.uk/bibliography.htm
...I think there is a lot of value there, particularly his arguments that trainee (ie. undergraduate) archaeologists should have more rigorous training in professional matters (what is professionalism, how to set up and run a business etc.) as well as the basic mechanisms of developer funding. He is also right to point out the futility (and potential illegality in a free market) of aligning archaeological wages to public sector pay scales.