30th March 2014, 10:16 AM
I think we're both saying much the same thing, but from different backgrounds. Archaeology in general does need to be approached with academic rigour, and the best way probably is via university. But for fieldwork, as long as the individual has enough interest in the subject to do their own background reading, and keeps asking the right questions, a lack of an archaeology degree is not, and shouldn't be, any barrier. So, to keep Kevin happy, I'm also agreeing with him re. degrees and membership of the IfA too. 
My argument centres around this: when I first got seriously interested in archaeology a few years ago, I asked various people what books would give me a good grounding. The Renfrew and Bahn tome was recommended. I bought it and read it and was surprised how little of it was actually applicable to 'doing' British archaeology. Being someone who prefers to 'do' rather than just read and write about a subject (it's why I prefer archaeology to history), I was and am concerned that archaeology degrees in general are teaching the wrong stuff for people who actually want to practice archaeology in this country, as opposed to those who want to stay within the academic environment. After all, and no apologies for repeating this, the majority of employment opportunities are within commercial archaeology, where the focus is on doing.
My argument centres around this: when I first got seriously interested in archaeology a few years ago, I asked various people what books would give me a good grounding. The Renfrew and Bahn tome was recommended. I bought it and read it and was surprised how little of it was actually applicable to 'doing' British archaeology. Being someone who prefers to 'do' rather than just read and write about a subject (it's why I prefer archaeology to history), I was and am concerned that archaeology degrees in general are teaching the wrong stuff for people who actually want to practice archaeology in this country, as opposed to those who want to stay within the academic environment. After all, and no apologies for repeating this, the majority of employment opportunities are within commercial archaeology, where the focus is on doing.
I reserve the right to change my mind. It's called learning.