21st April 2009, 03:30 PM
Quote:quote:Originally posted by beamo
I actually think that we do need some form of accreditation in archaeology, just as IfA have been pushing for.
Unfortunately the debate on accreditation always gets drawn into the issue of how we can 'license' professional archaeologists whilst still allowing the participation of non-professionals.
I don't think that this is as difficult a problem as it might appear and in fact there is an historical precedent.
For many years the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society (LaMAS) acted both as an umbrella body for professional archaeologists (through the Museum of London) and for non professional 'community-based' archaeologists in a number of local societies within the Greater London area. Surely it isn't outside the realms of curatorial imagination to monitor archaeological work with the LaMAS model in mind. And my impression (backed up by LaMAS publications of both professional and non-professional work) is that the model worked very well..
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...