3rd July 2014, 07:19 AM
At the end of the day surely it is about pressure and stress. Lessons learned in a classroom, at a field school even through on the job training need to be honed in the white heat of the moment. I have met all sorts of extremely talented archaeologists who just cannot handle stress.....I am sure that the deadlines imposed by commercial archaeology exacerbate the situation, but I have also seen folk succumbing to stress on less pressured excavations.....The reverse is also true and some truly fantastic archaeologists may appear lacking (at least on paper) but are able to carry out consistent and considered work in situations that would have many other people running for the hills....Its not just about training in skills but also about building reserves of both physical and mental stamina.....some people may appear to have that naturally, others need longer to develop. That's probably where the suggestion of the adequacies of 2 weeks training is at its weakest....
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...