Archaeology... it's the future!

[BAJR Host]

I have one thing to say to gorilla.. damn right!

I have been considering this... and if .. IF BAJR is to be more than a talking shop.. and it certainly has had its fair share of talking.. and also its fair share of dealing with issues that really matter. The wish list (for it is a wish list will become hardened into goals... honest and achievable goals... and I will make that section that looks at what is happening.. how it is changing, how far we are to achieving them.. and providing positive actions we all can take.

BAJR has people Diggers, POs, Supervisors, Directors, Curators, Consultants, Specialists, Illustrators, University Staff, Students, you naem it... it is one of the very very few places where we can all talk, all discuss... lets see some cooperative action.

:face-huh:

"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers

[BAJR Host]

quote:Hopefully something will be done about 'away jobs', that seems one of the most pressing issues to me, along with training which I feel is the crux issue. Until a system of training and experience/skill recognition gets sorted, and is tied in to universities and units, it will all carry on as it does now. The pyramid of experience will continue to be as skewed as it is, with fresh faces every summer desperate for work, but with no effective training, and the good people leaving because they are fed up at being paid the same and being taken for granted. It's just unfortunate that so many units assume that as long as they have a couple of old lags, they can get sites dug, as so much of archaeology is just emptying holes and putting the pretty things in bags.

thank you bob.. an often mentioned problem... and as gorilla says.. perhaps talking gets us nowhere.. what to do.. and how to do it... ie.. CPD and NVQ are all well and good, but how do they translate into benefits? :face-thinks:

"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers

[gorilla]

Thank hosty for the kind words [:I]

I did get a bit worked up there (yesterday)... but as mentioned, the whole thing is borne of frustration (and a bit of hope).

Just one thought this morning. I was wondering... when was the last time when a [u]non</u>-IfA member was invited to talk/discuss with the IfA comittee regarding IfA membership, structure and operation? Was there ever a time? Has or does the IfA take on board the views of non-members (the good majority of archaeologists?)

Perhaps if they actually talked to non-members about just why they haven't joined (or won't join), the IfA would be better informed. It's no good preaching to the already converted.

[BAJR Host]

One for the IfA (does anyone else find this annoying to type! I am sure I will get used to it)) to answer. Perhaps they would answer this, as they do sometimes look here, but often feel that they are under attack on BAJR, and prefer not to see this, as it could be quite hurtful, if you feel that it is unjustified. Perhaps though if it was not seen as attack but constructive .. adn I would content that more and more there is not attack - but real issues that are being asked about. (like your own).

Anyone from the IfA want to answer... we may find they do just that

"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers

[ellie163]

Training is one of the things that most frustrates me in archaeology. The majority of site staff do excellent work but there are still staff who know next to nothing who get pay rises and promotions with no regard for their actual level of knowledge. Supervisors who have never dug or recorded a cut??? Supervisors who can't read a matrix let alone construct them??
In both cases poorer paid, lower levels members of staff had to re-do a large amount of work to compensate for incompetent senior members of staff.
I would HOPE that in 5-10 years this sort of situation couldn't exist.
A compulsory training scheme or practical qualification would help.

[gorilla]

Perhaps they would answer this, as they do sometimes look here, but often feel that they are under attack on BAJR, and prefer not to see this, as it could be quite hurtful, if you feel that it is unjustified.

But isn't this the sort of thing they SHOULD be looking at?

Personally, I find a head-in-the-sand attitude a sure-fire, easy way of dealing with a problem. Alternatively, I've tried blinkers, turning a blind eye, blame-storming and even tried out making it an SEP (someone elses problem). Each one worked for a while, but in the end the problems were still there (if not bigger).

But, no-one directly funds me in order that I can bury my head in the sand. The IfA should be answerable (even contactable?) to all of its members and, dare I say, the 7731 people directly earning from archaeology (Profiling the Profession 2007-0:face-thinks:. And, if they aren't answerable... why not?

[Dirty Dave Lincoln]

As i've said once before,the emphasis on training people in the basics should be at Uni- what's the point of a degree in the job if the people then turn up on site wanting a job and not knowing how to do it? what company would employ a brickie who coudn't build a wall-answer..no one!:face-confused:

[ellie163]

The problem is though that units DO employ people who can't do the job. AND what is more, keep these people on. (At least in my experience). I agree a degree should provide practical training but there are those who argue that a degree shouldn't be a pre requisite for getting a job in field archaeology. It certainly isn't at the moment.

[BAJR Host]

And, if they aren't answerable... why not?,..... not wanting to put words in their mouths.. they would probably say....

Join the IfA and you will have a voice in the working of the IfA.

that said... they could look to places like BAJR (are there other places? -- well I suppose you could join their Facebook) and answer people directly who are not in the IfA showing them why they should.

"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers

[BAJR Host]

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8531366027 for their facebook

"I don't have an archaeological imagination.."
Borekickers