exclusive/inclusive:race and class

[Troll]

Why is archaeology predominantly a white middle class endeavour? Are`nt we failing in something fundamental here?

[deepdigger]

It's not us thats failing mate, its the people who hire the staff.
I for one will work with anyone as long as they take a turn at making the tea and getting the biscuits!!

deep

[troll]

Does`nt even get as far as hiring staff Deep-how many people from an ethnic background can be found studying at undergrad level?[?]

[deepdigger]

No mate thats very true, when I was in college there was only one person, a girl, who wasnt white doing the archaeology degree and she quit after 2 years!
Think she went on to do a degree in animation or something!!

deep

[sea-surgeon]

The girl who quit probably realized it would be better to work with muppets than work for muppets. Why are there less ethnic minorities in archaeology? Is it just the statistics, there aren't exactly massive numbers of archaeologists.

There seems to be a strong sense of roots in archaeology, in America there are more archaeologists in ethnic groups that see themselves as having roots in that country's past, particularly Amerindians (what with it being their country and everything) and Black Americans (having been uprooted to America in the 16th century). The attachment of British ethnic minorities to Britain's past is presumably lesser as their arrival is not as emotive, relatively recent (in terms of large population movements) and their history can be traced to a different country quite easily (not having been repressed as it has in America).

Maybe archaeology as an academic discipline is closer than we would like to the unpalatable image of the Great White Hunter. Archaeology does not contribute a great deal to society and it could be argued that it is a trait of decadent, imperialistic western society. Would you trust a society that keeps looking back over it's shoulder? What are we trying to justify? Are we looking for something to back up a feeling of superiority?

I did read some research that suggested the lack of ethnic minorities in archaeology was due to the fact that they are under pressure to get higher paid professional jobs. If we are honest this is probably because until recently our society was at least moderately racist and these kinds of jobs just weren't open to ethnic minorities. Are all archaeologists the children of middle class bank managers who just want to get dirty and experience some hardship so they can sleep at night? Then again, most unit managers know they would be shot dead in the street if they put a group of non-white people to work in a field under archaeologists pay and conditions.

[eggbasket]

quote:Originally posted by sea-surgeon

Then again, most unit managers know they would be shot dead in the street if they put a group of non-white people to work in a field under archaeologists pay and conditions.

Tell that to the construction industry. Pay is only really better there because they work 12 hour days and the conditions are, if anything, worse in many respects; I think the statistic is one death per week. And the construction industry is chocka with non-white people.

There's nothing like a Dane ...

[idontdodinos]

quote: There seems to be a strong sense of roots in archaeology, in America there are more archaeologists in ethnic groups that see themselves as having roots in that country's past, particularly Amerindians (what with it being their country and everything) and Black Americans (having been uprooted to America in the 16th century).

I agree with sea surgeon. There were quite a few Native Canadians in my plains archaeology classes at uni and not one in any of my roman, greek, near-eastern or south american classes. One of my classmates was actually a Cree Medicine Man and he taught us more about the culture through his stories than we could have ever learned in the class just looking at artifacts and making our own interpretations.

The Natives have a great oral tradition, extending back way before the Europeans arrived, which is passed down through the generations and these stories enable us to get a better understanding of features like medicine wheels and burial cairns.

Back to what sea surgeon said, the archaeology is their past. Maybe that is why there are so many of us North Americans digging over here, this is where the majority of our white ancestors came from after all.

ps- not so sure about Amerindians? Where does that come from? Have never, ever heard that term before!

[troll]

Me neither- indigenous Americans perhaps! Sea-surgeon-like your politics. The earliest peoples to live in the UK were in my opinion-non white. I would also argue that many non-whites were here a long time before most "British" families were. The concept of people chosing archaeology that has a direct relation to themselves (clumsy-I`m knackered, you know wot I mean) is an interesting one. Are we in some way attempting to understand/identify who we are? With a predominantly white archaeological profession, are we not hideously guilty of presenting a white history? As Dino pointed out, the perceptions of a people outside of our grasp of the "norm" (Cree medicine man) have a superb ability to force us to see with new eyes. The crux of my question really is this...how do we as a profession/academic endeavour encourage participation of ethnic minorities? Without a wider bandwidth, we run the risk of whitewashing history.

[mercenary]

quote:Amerindians? Where does that come from? Have never, ever heard that term before!

I have, but can't remember where. Just possibly it's now considered un-pc or something. Sigh, I'm getting old.

[deepdigger]

http://countrystudies.us/brazil/35.htm

Check it out people, they are live and well (well some are)!!

deep