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Maybe cos when us old gits can't be assed to taxi them about any more they'll be codemned to permanent unemployment? - I can't immediately think of any non-archaeologist of my acquaintance over the age of 18 who can't drive [though I'll concede there probably are some]
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The School of Jack welcomes your criticism......though with many aspects of archaeology, the context is key. Please refer to the course introduction and note the small print in the prospectus; primarily:
'The School of Jack does not debate right and wrong, it only speaks the truth.'
'The course content is designed to help any practitioner survive in the commercial world, though individual experiences may vary.'
'The School of Jack does not refer to any one organisation or the experiences of a single individual, it is an amalgamation of collective experience.'
'Though The School of Jack values attendance (see lesson 2 subsection 1), attendance to the School of Jack is entirely optional.'
'The School of Jack despises middle management. It is the work of Satan.'
'The School of Jack does not recognise the authority of any deity, demi-god, mythical creation, or religious icon.'
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*shakes head in despondency*
'Tis not student bashing, I have many friends that were/are students and was once a student myself...
.
The desire to learn must always be there, training can be implemented by yourself just by asking questions, never stop asking questions.
You were probably right about Dino learning to drive, except you missed out the bit where someone would have to walk in front with a flag }
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£20/hr for driving lessons was actually a hell of a lot of money back in the early 80s, I'd be guessing they're no more expensive in real terms now than they were then - and certainly judging by the streets around where I live an awful lot of students these days seem to have cars?
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Dinosaur Wrote:£20/hr for driving lessons was actually a hell of a lot of money back in the early 80s, I'd be guessing they're no more expensive in real terms now than they were then - and certainly judging by the streets around where I live an awful lot of students these days seem to have cars?
I'm getting a strange sense of deja vu...
Did you lot just have a staff meeting at which it was concluded to all come out fighting at once? Ding ding, seconds away round two!
I can't be bothered with this any more.
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Lesson 3 Cleaning
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Archaeological cleaning is a vital part the practitioners toolkit of skills, and it is not as easy as it seems. The purpose of cleaning is to make archaeological deposits and hence the edges and intersections of features more visible, whilst usually (but not always) preparing the area for a photograph fit for publication. The best tool for this depends on a) the type of cleaning (either area clean, pre-ex feature clean or post-ex/ mid-ex clean for a photo); b) the geology; and c) the weather/ ground conditions. The available tools include the mattock, shovel, spade, the fabled Krafse, hoe, yard broom, hand brush, trowel, paintbrush, leaf trowel, lolly-pop stick.
'How many times hav ay telt ya. The right tool fur the right job!'
- scotty
During an area clean, patches of overlying deposits may need to be removed including subsoil, furrow fills, patches of topsoil, the previous years backfill, or even an archaeological layer. Sometimes it takes an amount of experience to know what should come off and what should be left in. Take heed of the supervisors direction, but also follow the example of the more experience staff around you. If you don't know or aren't sure. Ask.
Cleaning is not an excuse to lean on a shovel and chat up the latest new recruit. Nor is cleaning a 'rest' where the lazy can tickle the ground with a hoe while the rest of the team pick up the slack.
If your area doesn't look clean after your efforts, clean it again.
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RedEarth Wrote:I'm getting a strange sense of deja vu...
Did you lot just have a staff meeting at which it was concluded to all come out fighting at once? Ding ding, seconds away round two!
I can't be bothered with this any more.
Don't give up dude.
A discussion needs at least two sides.
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Jack Wrote:Don't give up dude.
A discussion needs at least two sides.
Yes, a discussion does need two sides....
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Dinosaur Wrote:Maybe cos when us old gits can't be assed to taxi them about any more they'll be codemned to permanent unemployment? - I can't immediately think of any non-archaeologist of my acquaintance over the age of 18 who can't drive [though I'll concede there probably are some]
Actually
the number of people learning to drive is plummeting:
Quote:In Britain, the percentage of 17- to 20-year-olds with driving licences fell from 48% in the early 1990s to 35% last year. The number of miles travelled by all forms of domestic transport, per capita per year, has flatlined for years. Meanwhile, road traffic figures for cars and taxis, having risen more or less every year since 1949, have continued to fall since 2007. Motoring groups put it down to oil prices and the economy. Others offer a more fundamental explanation: the golden age of motoring is over.
Archaeology isn't immune from demographics and so I'd suggest that, rather than there being lots of unemployed archaeologists without licences, companies are going to have to (eventually) rethink how they operate to some degree (or pay people with licences a huge wage premium).
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If your area doesn't look clean after your efforts, clean it again.
[/SIZE]note: if you are asked to clean the same area more than six time it means your supervisor hasn't got a clue how to tackle the archaeology
(they are vainly hoping each clean will reveal a little bit more and they can put off tackling it)