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+--- Thread: Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" (/showthread.php?tid=5318)
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - P Prentice - 25th June 2014
Tool Wrote:two weeks experience before allowing them to identify, excavate, record and interpret without worry? Either everyone you've met is above genius, where you operate the archaeology is clearer and more simple than the rest of us have seen, or you have very low standards! Two weeks... really... :face-crying:that's what supervisors are for. and yes i can train most people to be perfectly adequate diggers in two weeks and i can train a supervisor in two years - once i've weeded out all the wastrels and ne'erdowells and those with chips on their shoulders that is.
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - RedEarth - 25th June 2014
P Prentice Wrote:yes i can train most people to be perfectly adequate diggers in two weeks and i can train a supervisor in two years - once i've weeded out all the wastrels and ne'erdowells and those with chips on their shoulders that is.
That explains the method though, once you've weeded all of them out there is presumably no-one left.
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - Jack - 25th June 2014
P Prentice Wrote:<snip>- once i've weeded out all the wastrels and ne'erdowells and those with chips on their shoulders that is.
And therein lies the answer to saving as much archaeology as possible under commercial pressures and the need for short-term contracts, trainee starting rates etc etc.
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - Jack - 25th June 2014
RedEarth Wrote:That explains the method though, once you've weeded all of them out there is presumably no-one left.
Nah, I'm with PP here. Digging archaeology is a privilege not a right. It is a valuable and diminishing resource that as yet is undervalued.
In my experience of running sites, training people and rescuing as much as I can I have seen 'natural' archaeologists who get it pretty much straight away and have the hunger and dedication to the cause. Those that are hungry to learn and never stop to do so.
I have seen those without this natural ability who have to work harder to learn but still get there.....
But unfortunately I have also come across those who pretend to know what they are doing and who destroy much information, I have seen the deluded wannabe's who spout words of experience and skill that their bodies and minds cannot back up.
But more worrying I have seen the ambitious unskilled who's only interest is the thrill of command and the kudos of running a dig. They are the enemy.
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - RedEarth - 25th June 2014
Jack Wrote:Nah, I'm with PP here. Digging archaeology is a privilege not a right. It is a valuable and diminishing resource that as yet is undervalued.
In my experience of running sites, training people and rescuing as much as I can I have seen 'natural' archaeologists who get it pretty much straight away and have the hunger and dedication to the cause. Those that are hungry to learn and never stop to do so.
I have seen those without this natural ability who have to work harder to learn but still get there.....
But unfortunately I have also come across those who pretend to know what they are doing and who destroy much information, I have seen the deluded wannabe's who spout words of experience and skill that their bodies and minds cannot back up.
But more worrying I have seen the ambitious unskilled who's only interest is the thrill of command and the kudos of running a dig. They are the enemy.
No wonder you lot are struggling to find staff, who could meet those standards?
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - Wax - 25th June 2014
So in light of being unable to recruit decent staff have any of you actually tried upping the wages and company benefits to attract them? Just asking
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - Mike.T. - 25th June 2014
P Prentice Wrote:that's what supervisors are for. and yes i can train most people to be perfectly adequate diggers in two weeks and i can train a supervisor in two years -
Two weeks to train someone to become a competent Archaeologist and two years to train someone to be a Supervisor !!?
You're havin' a laugh. :p
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - Dinosaur - 27th June 2014
Mike.T. Wrote:Two weeks to train someone to become a competent Archaeologist and two years to train someone to be a Supervisor !!?
You're havin' a laugh. :p
Not sure he is, all just a part of the ongoing race to the bottom in UK commercial archaeology
With limited site time, budget etc, a large part of a supervisor's job is knowing/guessing what features to dedicate resources to before they're dug, no use realising after the whole thing's been dug and is on the spoilheap that actually all the finds should have been 3Ded and various scientific samples taken. I'd suggest that takes rather more than 2 years of site experience, which could be on just a handful of sites? [and a helluva lot of background reading, trawling through museums, visiting sites etc] Unless of course PP is happy to just churn out mediocre results every time? :face-stir:
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - Sikelgaita - 27th June 2014
Jack Wrote:I have seen 'natural' archaeologists who get it pretty much straight away and have the hunger and dedication to the cause.
What is the cause? The absolute worship of archaeology above all else and if your life is not dedicated to archaeology then you are not worthy. In my opinion this 'Dig to Live Live to Dig' view has been a major factor in maintaining low pay and the exploitation of archaeologists. It is a job not a religion.
Is it me? the rise of teh "trainee" - Sikelgaita - 27th June 2014
P Prentice Wrote:that's what supervisors are for. and yes i can train most people to be perfectly adequate diggers in two weeks and i can train a supervisor in two years .
I agree with this. I think that teaching basic excavation and recording skills does not take that long. After that it is down to learning through experience.
Supervisors after two years I am not so certain. People management skills are difficult to teach.