15th February 2014, 04:17 PM
What I want to see is a clear definition of what constitutes a "Chartered Archaeologist" something that clearly takes into account the very broad range of specialisms that can be considered "archaeology". And perhaps at is very basic level states that to be an "archaeologist" you must have dug or undertaken other appropriate field work for a minimum number of years whether you have a degree or not. Yes I know there are some specialist fields out there where in theory you may never need to exit the nice warm lab or office but to me an archaeologist must at least have an understanding of where the evidence comes from and how it is collected. Too much of what now constitutes archaeology has lost all contact with the field.
The IFA gradings of membership have become divisive and do not recognise the skills of the field worker the step from practitioner to member is too great and I think unrealistic in a discipline where it is difficult to get jobs that enable you to get the necessary experience and training to move up the membership grades. The opportunities to progress are not there a charted organisation must surely provide such opportunities for its members otherwise what is it? A few bursaries and the occasional training course do not in my opinion constitute an organisation that is encouraging training and career progression.
May be there will be a total re think of the structure for a charted organisation but I suspect not. I want a licence to undertake field work which membership of a charted organisation is not.
The IFA gradings of membership have become divisive and do not recognise the skills of the field worker the step from practitioner to member is too great and I think unrealistic in a discipline where it is difficult to get jobs that enable you to get the necessary experience and training to move up the membership grades. The opportunities to progress are not there a charted organisation must surely provide such opportunities for its members otherwise what is it? A few bursaries and the occasional training course do not in my opinion constitute an organisation that is encouraging training and career progression.
May be there will be a total re think of the structure for a charted organisation but I suspect not. I want a licence to undertake field work which membership of a charted organisation is not.