2nd November 2011, 08:36 AM
(This post was last modified: 2nd November 2011, 08:48 AM by kevin wooldridge.)
Fortunately (from a historical perspective) Rescue carried out a survey in 1991 that has become a 'snapshot' of the industry at that point... those halcyon pre-commercial days!!. Rereading it, I note that the big players in 1991are pretty much (unsurprisngly) the big players 20 years later, a few names have changed, obviously a lot of then 'public' bodies have become more commercially based, but the outline of the industry is pretty recognisable. Like most of us over 20 years, the industy's waistline has expanded and there are now estimated to be twice as many participants involved compared to the peak of 1986 (although the report makes clear that peak was heightened by job creation schemes). Interestingly the report suggests in 1991 there were 137 organisations carrying out archaeological wrork in the UK and an undisclosed number of individuals (the 'circuit'). I wouldn't mind betting that the number of organisations active today is just about the same (A little survey I did 4 years ago for 'OutWage' suggested a peak of about 170 organisations in the UK and 20 or so in Ireland) ....
So my 'conspiracy' theory is this: for all the piss and wind generated on this forum and in other places, the structure of the industry doesn't seem to have changed very much at all in the 20 years since 'commercialisation' came in. Why would anyone have us believe otherwise?
PS Based on the 1991 figure of archaeologists employed, the IfA's current 2011 membership would account for 127% of all known speices.....therefore they are completely on track to take over the world, but it will just be 20 years later than you think. Which might only be expected from a bunch of archaeologists....!!
Bibliography The Structure and Funding of British Archaeology. The RESCUE Questionnaire 1990-91, by Paul Spoerry
I note that Paul's report is still available through Rescue price ?3.50 http://rescue-archaeology.org.uk/category/publications/
So my 'conspiracy' theory is this: for all the piss and wind generated on this forum and in other places, the structure of the industry doesn't seem to have changed very much at all in the 20 years since 'commercialisation' came in. Why would anyone have us believe otherwise?
PS Based on the 1991 figure of archaeologists employed, the IfA's current 2011 membership would account for 127% of all known speices.....therefore they are completely on track to take over the world, but it will just be 20 years later than you think. Which might only be expected from a bunch of archaeologists....!!
Bibliography The Structure and Funding of British Archaeology. The RESCUE Questionnaire 1990-91, by Paul Spoerry
I note that Paul's report is still available through Rescue price ?3.50 http://rescue-archaeology.org.uk/category/publications/
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...