16th February 2014, 11:05 AM
(This post was last modified: 16th February 2014, 11:13 AM by Tool.)
Sorry, I can feel a rant coming on. Tried to resist, but...
This whole IfA debate seems to revolve around whether they are actually representative of archaeology in this country. It is demonstrable that they are not, both from numerous comments in here and the fact that I haven't met a single field archaeologist that would willingly be a member. Many in fact either see them as irrelevant or hold them in contempt. The answer that comes from the IfA supporters is that we should be in it to change it. That is as daft as saying I should join the BNP because I disagree with their policies. And here lies the problem. This attitude - join us or you're not an archaeologist - is so unbelievably patronising! No, it should be the other way round. If the IfA seriously want to be the bastions of good archaeology they should be coming to us, finding out the truth of the situation, tailoring themselves to the reality experienced by the largest proportion of archaeologists. Their holier than thou attitude will, if it continues, do no more than drive the wedge further between the few at the 'top' (who seem to have extremely short memories concerning fieldwork, if they've ever done any...) and those out there in all conditions actually producing the data. Until they can demonstrate that they are willing to learn rather than dictate, then they will fail to achieve anything beneficial to either archaeology or archaeologists.
That feels better, glad I got that off my chest! Have a good Sunday!
This whole IfA debate seems to revolve around whether they are actually representative of archaeology in this country. It is demonstrable that they are not, both from numerous comments in here and the fact that I haven't met a single field archaeologist that would willingly be a member. Many in fact either see them as irrelevant or hold them in contempt. The answer that comes from the IfA supporters is that we should be in it to change it. That is as daft as saying I should join the BNP because I disagree with their policies. And here lies the problem. This attitude - join us or you're not an archaeologist - is so unbelievably patronising! No, it should be the other way round. If the IfA seriously want to be the bastions of good archaeology they should be coming to us, finding out the truth of the situation, tailoring themselves to the reality experienced by the largest proportion of archaeologists. Their holier than thou attitude will, if it continues, do no more than drive the wedge further between the few at the 'top' (who seem to have extremely short memories concerning fieldwork, if they've ever done any...) and those out there in all conditions actually producing the data. Until they can demonstrate that they are willing to learn rather than dictate, then they will fail to achieve anything beneficial to either archaeology or archaeologists.
That feels better, glad I got that off my chest! Have a good Sunday!