20th July 2009, 12:00 PM
"In the sort time i have observed (just 15 years or so), i think that attitude has dimminished - there is less acceptance of a limited level of materail ambition, rather it is temporary stage. This engenders attitudes of coperate development rather tahn personal development...does this lead to perpetual promotion of people with the wrong attitude? >> ie what confessions might they they make, if persued, about why they were doing thier job in archaeology?"
I disagree that people who don't spend their entire career at the sharp end of fieldwork necessarily have the 'wrong attittude'. I don't seem to remember taking a vow of poverty when I became an archaeologist. If wanting promotion is the wrong attitude, then what is the right attitude? I do remember early in my career looking at the lifestyles of the men (all men) who had been excavators for 25 years plus, and deciding that its not for me.
I got into archaeology for the love of it, and I'm lucky enouugh to be in an interesting job and still loving it. Archaeology is varied and interesting, and there is scope for telling you something about society and the past.
I disagree that people who don't spend their entire career at the sharp end of fieldwork necessarily have the 'wrong attittude'. I don't seem to remember taking a vow of poverty when I became an archaeologist. If wanting promotion is the wrong attitude, then what is the right attitude? I do remember early in my career looking at the lifestyles of the men (all men) who had been excavators for 25 years plus, and deciding that its not for me.
I got into archaeology for the love of it, and I'm lucky enouugh to be in an interesting job and still loving it. Archaeology is varied and interesting, and there is scope for telling you something about society and the past.