20th March 2011, 03:42 PM
Actually, I like this a lot. We're all talking fairly constructively and tackling the core issues, which is great.
The reason I wanted to get this thread going is because, we all have a view and its evident that most of us often struggle to define, not why WE do archaeology, but why archaeology should be done or why other people would want us to do it. This is the distinction that needs to be teased out for us to go forwards. I was hoping that by getting everyone to put down their views and experience we can each draw on that and begin to fill in the gaps in our own arguments. I also think Kel has hit the nail on the head - go and ask people what they think. Not whether they think it is more important than doctors or policemen, but whether they care if archaeology and heritage are done and why that is.
For me, archaeology is important because it allows us to achieve a holistic view of ourselves. It gives the people of our communities the ability to place themselves and others, to understand where ideas come from and validate or question them both in their source and against past events. Beyond that, it offers a myriad of individual aspects people can approach, tap into and be inspired by, and its unique multi-disciplined approach offers something beyond anything like a community group (I've always wondered why people don't set up more community groups around archaeology clubs ? I suspect its because we as archaeologists often don't bother with such things, with obvious exceptions).
It can also act as a wonderful teaching tool - you can teach and demonstrate almost all other subjects through archaeology and, if its presented in the right way it can offer an inspiring all-round learning experience in which almost all subjects can be applied and hypothetical, theoretical or abstract concepts bought to life and made understandable. So it can be used to bond, develop and understand. There aren't many subjects which offer those possibilities. Its because of these aspects that I believe archaeology (and its wider range of complimentary subjects and disciplines) are socially valuable even if their contribution to the purist's economic argument may be minimal.
Unfortunately, what I'm talking about is, in so many instances, potential. If we aren't doing this we need to start and where we are we need to learn and develop. As has been said, the biggest problem we have is with our own vision ? our ability to see beyond our own noses. We shouldn't need to be led or need to tie each other into pseudo-contracts to achieve good practise. Its quite right to say that the IfA has singularly failed in its aim of representing everyone. But then again, we won't let ourselves be represented by people we don't trust.
Let the IfA do what they do best: lobby and talk politics and attempt to give a visage of professionalism. Let the CBA hand out grants if they can still afford it and let FAME attempt to talk to each other and direct the commercial sector ? there are bad directors and good directors and directors just trying to keep companies afloat. If we back the good ones on mass wherever possible they can pin back the bad ones (overly simplistic, I know). Commercialism is what it is and we might just have to live with the fact that if we want to be a part of it we'll have to take the good with the bad. Unions/Prospect can begin now to get to grips with the pay, terms and conditions and take a more unified and united position on it. If we can let all of those organisations focus on their single purposes we can get on with leading ourselves with a bit of self respect and dealing with the bigger issues ? who we are, what we do and why we do it.
Everyone can play there part ? raise awareness and begin to take some of these ideas out beyond our own traditional comfort zones. Lets all start selling archaeology and heritage and lets all start doing it better in amongst our own communities, our families and friends. Have dinner with your parents mates and pass on some of the selling points, functions and social uses of archaeology, tell your neighbours and your mates. Learn how to sell it and learn how to frame it in a way that doesn't cause all those people who normally glaze over at the first mention of prehistory or landscape surveys to switch off.
And in the meantime, lets keep talking and take the opportunities that arise for standing up and making our claim to legitimacy or campaigning and supporting ourselves and colleagues in other disciplines that are in similar cirumstances.
P.s. Sorry that was so long, been off-line for a couple of days........
The reason I wanted to get this thread going is because, we all have a view and its evident that most of us often struggle to define, not why WE do archaeology, but why archaeology should be done or why other people would want us to do it. This is the distinction that needs to be teased out for us to go forwards. I was hoping that by getting everyone to put down their views and experience we can each draw on that and begin to fill in the gaps in our own arguments. I also think Kel has hit the nail on the head - go and ask people what they think. Not whether they think it is more important than doctors or policemen, but whether they care if archaeology and heritage are done and why that is.
For me, archaeology is important because it allows us to achieve a holistic view of ourselves. It gives the people of our communities the ability to place themselves and others, to understand where ideas come from and validate or question them both in their source and against past events. Beyond that, it offers a myriad of individual aspects people can approach, tap into and be inspired by, and its unique multi-disciplined approach offers something beyond anything like a community group (I've always wondered why people don't set up more community groups around archaeology clubs ? I suspect its because we as archaeologists often don't bother with such things, with obvious exceptions).
It can also act as a wonderful teaching tool - you can teach and demonstrate almost all other subjects through archaeology and, if its presented in the right way it can offer an inspiring all-round learning experience in which almost all subjects can be applied and hypothetical, theoretical or abstract concepts bought to life and made understandable. So it can be used to bond, develop and understand. There aren't many subjects which offer those possibilities. Its because of these aspects that I believe archaeology (and its wider range of complimentary subjects and disciplines) are socially valuable even if their contribution to the purist's economic argument may be minimal.
Unfortunately, what I'm talking about is, in so many instances, potential. If we aren't doing this we need to start and where we are we need to learn and develop. As has been said, the biggest problem we have is with our own vision ? our ability to see beyond our own noses. We shouldn't need to be led or need to tie each other into pseudo-contracts to achieve good practise. Its quite right to say that the IfA has singularly failed in its aim of representing everyone. But then again, we won't let ourselves be represented by people we don't trust.
Let the IfA do what they do best: lobby and talk politics and attempt to give a visage of professionalism. Let the CBA hand out grants if they can still afford it and let FAME attempt to talk to each other and direct the commercial sector ? there are bad directors and good directors and directors just trying to keep companies afloat. If we back the good ones on mass wherever possible they can pin back the bad ones (overly simplistic, I know). Commercialism is what it is and we might just have to live with the fact that if we want to be a part of it we'll have to take the good with the bad. Unions/Prospect can begin now to get to grips with the pay, terms and conditions and take a more unified and united position on it. If we can let all of those organisations focus on their single purposes we can get on with leading ourselves with a bit of self respect and dealing with the bigger issues ? who we are, what we do and why we do it.
Everyone can play there part ? raise awareness and begin to take some of these ideas out beyond our own traditional comfort zones. Lets all start selling archaeology and heritage and lets all start doing it better in amongst our own communities, our families and friends. Have dinner with your parents mates and pass on some of the selling points, functions and social uses of archaeology, tell your neighbours and your mates. Learn how to sell it and learn how to frame it in a way that doesn't cause all those people who normally glaze over at the first mention of prehistory or landscape surveys to switch off.
And in the meantime, lets keep talking and take the opportunities that arise for standing up and making our claim to legitimacy or campaigning and supporting ourselves and colleagues in other disciplines that are in similar cirumstances.
P.s. Sorry that was so long, been off-line for a couple of days........