18th April 2011, 07:22 PM
Has anyone asked the amateurs and volunteers if they want to be involved in commercial archaeology? I work with a Local Archaeology Group and I know for a fact that none of them do - not if they are going to take away professional paid jobs and, if they did attend, be the cause of discontent among the pros on site. And in any case? It is impossible to get a voluntary rota for every day of the week, week in and week out throughout the year. That is why most societies - which attract the amateurs etc who would like to participate in archaeology - work on research projects at specific times in the year.
I despair. Sometimes, I feel that groups like the Southport group and IfA are trying to repaint the stern of the good ship British Archaeology while it is sinking by the bows.
I despair. Sometimes, I feel that groups like the Southport group and IfA are trying to repaint the stern of the good ship British Archaeology while it is sinking by the bows.