Watching Brief Training

[diggerhobbit]

An archaeologist told me a few years back that they had been sent on a training course concerning watching briefs, procedure, practice etc etc? does anybody know if a training course like this still exists/exists? thanks in advance.

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

[troll]

Not heard of that one! It seems that watching brief skills are gained by shadowing peers or simply being thrown in at the deep end!One way of getting into this is to ask ones employer if you can shadow someone on the next job. I think formal training in this would be a good thing.For some, WBs are an excuse to sit in warm vehicles and come back when the jobs over.For others, WBs can actually be exciting and rewarding jobs.Whatever camp WB types operate in-both are in need of training in the direction of and, safe movement around plant machinery.The job can be quite demanding and on occasion an archy can find themselves donning many different hats on the spot.Good question this.Thanks Hobbit.:DA belated welcome to the forum too!

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad):)

[kevin wooldridge]

There was some kind of course based at York where two Molas persons (Portia and Julian Ayre I think) spoke about their experience of watching briefs. Could that be what you are thinking of? Perhaps contact Arch. Dept. York for more details

[diggerhobbit]

i want to gain experience in WB's, but i have found that shadowing a person although this would be the perfect environment in which to learn procedure etc is not often offered as a training opportunity because a watching brief is usually only meant for one person and an additional tag along person is one less on site etc and not economically viable. i find its a bit of a circular problem because only those who have usually done a WB in the past get sent on them (for obvious reasons) (i have volunteered in the past to no avail). The idea of being thrown in at the deep end is a terrifying one but i guess this is how people get started but aside from this happening how should one proceed? take a days unpaid leave and ask to shadow somebody? I am sure this training course was held in York? I know a training course could not fully prepare a person for actually doing a WB but i certainly would be interested in doing one just in terms getting a basic idea of guidelines etc

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

[diggerhobbit]

thankyou kevin, ill look into that :)

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

[troll]

Yep-circular argument sometimes.Thinking about it logically, units could`nt possibly send someone out on WBs without at least some safety training.Shadowing has to be the way forwards unless as a profession we are quite happy to send untrained and inexperienced peeps out on their own.If that`s what it takes and you really want to do it, take that day off.Whatever you do, don`t undertake a WB if you`ve not had the pleasure before.Whatever happens-NEVER accept one without the prerequisite risk assessment/method statement etc. Still think that formal training is a good idea........:D

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)

[sniper]

and after a recent experience, you need to expect the unexpected and react quickly when the unexpected happens rather than carrying on as before and hoping you didn't just find what you think you found...

++ i spend my days rummaging around in dead people ++

[troll]

:D:D:D

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)

[diggerhobbit]

yeah troll but surely this is the way its done isnt it? you have been digging for a while, a WB comes up and if you show willing or are needed then your sent on it?? no formal training in the workplace just a location and instructions and your good to go?? If there is training then i would definately be up for it but i was under the impression that units didnt specifically 'train' a person to do a WB?

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

[troll]

Think your assessment is about right.Seems to be one of them there "go and play with uncle so and so today" scenarios.Pick it up and run from the start.I don`t see why training could`nt be formalised-especially by those units who give even the slightest monkies for HS! :D

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)

[kevin wooldridge]

I have found this link to Julian and Portia's last foray into Watching Brief training. I guess (as it appears to be a moveable feast between Oxford and York) that contacting Julian directly at MoLAS may be the answer

http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/courses/AwardBearing/pdfs/Archaeological%20watching%20briefs%20threefold%20l eaflet.pdf

[beamo]

As so often on BAJR, the initial question reveals a deficiency in archaeological working practice.

Archaeological contractors find that maintaining a watching brief, especially a long-term intermittent one, to be a difficult and not particularly cost-effective set-up. As a result, WBs can often be delegated to a less-experienced and not very well-briefed individual on the grounds that they can be released at short notice from a more important piece of work (i.e. an excavation), and can drive.

The problem with this approach is that WBs actually require the input of an experienced field archaeologist capable of making quick decisions about what they are looking at and what to do with it. Some level of experience in dealing with hairy-arsed groundworkers anxious to get on with their job of construction can also be very useful.


Beamo

[beamo]

As so often on BAJR, the initial question reveals a deficiency in archaeological working practice.

Archaeological contractors find that maintaining a watching brief, especially a long-term intermittent one, to be a difficult and not particularly cost-effective set-up. As a result, WBs can often be delegated to a less-experienced and not very well-briefed individual on the grounds that they can be released at short notice from a more important piece of work (i.e. an excavation), and can drive.

The problem with this approach is that WBs actually require the input of an experienced field archaeologist capable of making quick decisions about what they are looking at and what to do with it. Some level of experience in dealing with hairy-arsed groundworkers anxious to get on with their job of construction can also be very useful.


Beamo

[SalonKitty]

Training courses and shadowing other members of staff will only teach you so much. It's like passing your driving test-you only really learn to drive when you've passed and you're on the road on your own with no one telling you what to do. If you have a reasonable amount of experience in the field, aren't afraid to ask questions and have a fair amount of confidence in your own abilities (but not too much!), then you will probably learn as much from doing your first watching brief as you would if you had attended a training course.

[SalonKitty]

Training courses and shadowing other members of staff will only teach you so much. It's like passing your driving test-you only really learn to drive when you've passed and you're on the road on your own with no one telling you what to do. If you have a reasonable amount of experience in the field, aren't afraid to ask questions and have a fair amount of confidence in your own abilities (but not too much!), then you will probably learn as much from doing your first watching brief as you would if you had attended a training course.

[chrysalis]

People tend to get sent on watching briefs purely because they have a driving license so thats a good place to start. It often is a case of being told to just 'get on with it' but a good way of getting experience is to volunteer to machine watch on a large site (usually urban) where machining is constantly taking place - that way there will be a supervisor around if you really cock up but you are basically on your own in a different section of site. Get a tough skin too cos the first time you will almost definitely mess up and either under or over do it but your boss will probably b#ll#ck you anyway.

[Duchess]

I went on the watching brief course at Oxford. Found it wasn't particularly relevant to actually undertaking a watching brief, more about costings, risk assessments, all the managerial type stuff. If I remember right only about 3 out of 20 were archaeologists, most were management or office-based people.

D

I dig dead people