20th October 2008, 11:32 AM
I am a professional archaeologist and a member of the IfA and I certainly consider that the main business of my job (and that of my staff) is indeed the 'study and care of the historic environment'.
The people who you demean as 'diggers' are actually engaged in a part of that process. Field archaeology is one of several strands. I myself am a field archaeologist and am proud of that, but I also recognise that I do not undertake excavations in a vacuum without reference to the disciplines of history, conservation and environmental and materials sciences - nor do I [u]only</u> do excavation.
I know it is fashionable on this forum to slag off the IfA. However the IfA is not a union and never will be, it is a professional body which is attempting to increase the profile and status of the profession [u]as a whole</u>. This means recognising the equally valuable contribution made to archaeology by 'non-diggers', including for example: finds specialists, illustrators, surveyors, buildings archaeologists, historians, IT specialists, geophysicists, conservation specialists and yes, even managers.
Salaries are on the list of things to look at, but salaries are subject to market forces and it is illegal for the IfA or anyone else to set a wage/pricing structure.
A union can only negotiate wages and other small items at the level of an individual or company.
What we (as a collective body of archaeologists) really need for [u]all of us</u> is to try and ensure that the professional status of archaeologists as a whole is raised so that other professionals and society at large values us for our skills, knowledge and expertise... and pays us accordingly. Therefore would it not be a good idea to work together as a profession? Why not have a professional institute that advocates on behalf of all of us at a much wider level? This, it seems to me is precisely what the IfA is doing, steadily, and with increasing success.
One very useful thing that the IFA is doing [u]right now</u> is requiring that all members and all ROs have a programme of Continuing Professional Development. Every single IfA member will be required to have a record of CPD and the profession as a whole will be encouraged to invest in training and development for people. This is a step forward towards increased professional status.
The people who you demean as 'diggers' are actually engaged in a part of that process. Field archaeology is one of several strands. I myself am a field archaeologist and am proud of that, but I also recognise that I do not undertake excavations in a vacuum without reference to the disciplines of history, conservation and environmental and materials sciences - nor do I [u]only</u> do excavation.
I know it is fashionable on this forum to slag off the IfA. However the IfA is not a union and never will be, it is a professional body which is attempting to increase the profile and status of the profession [u]as a whole</u>. This means recognising the equally valuable contribution made to archaeology by 'non-diggers', including for example: finds specialists, illustrators, surveyors, buildings archaeologists, historians, IT specialists, geophysicists, conservation specialists and yes, even managers.
Salaries are on the list of things to look at, but salaries are subject to market forces and it is illegal for the IfA or anyone else to set a wage/pricing structure.
A union can only negotiate wages and other small items at the level of an individual or company.
What we (as a collective body of archaeologists) really need for [u]all of us</u> is to try and ensure that the professional status of archaeologists as a whole is raised so that other professionals and society at large values us for our skills, knowledge and expertise... and pays us accordingly. Therefore would it not be a good idea to work together as a profession? Why not have a professional institute that advocates on behalf of all of us at a much wider level? This, it seems to me is precisely what the IfA is doing, steadily, and with increasing success.
One very useful thing that the IFA is doing [u]right now</u> is requiring that all members and all ROs have a programme of Continuing Professional Development. Every single IfA member will be required to have a record of CPD and the profession as a whole will be encouraged to invest in training and development for people. This is a step forward towards increased professional status.