15th May 2010, 01:06 PM
I think quite a lot of my original comment has been lost someone through this discussion. I was really commenting more on the fact (as I perceive it) that training needs are not properly met in commercial archaeology and yet there is tonnes of cash sloshing around in community projects, much of which is being spent on what is at least often referred to as training (indeed, that seems to be the whole point in many cases). I have had what Unit quite rightly states could be laughably referred to as a career in commercial archaeology for some years now and had virtually no formal training in that entire time, picking things up as I went a long most of the time (fortunately I am incredibly intelligent so I picked up a lot of things). The problem is the idea of formal and organised training and the notion of a career - formal and organised training seems to be the focus of a number of community projects, but is hardly dealt with in commercial archaeology, this feeds into the idea of a career. I would say the definition of a career is having some forward-looking trajectory or at least a sense of stability through reasonable pay, conditions, etc. Hanging on for 10 years or so, various contracts, changing company a couple of times, with little sense that it might ever change is not what I would call a career.
Anyway, probably moved away from the topic a little. My concern with what seems like an increasing emphasis on community projects in some areas/by some people is its potentially detrimental affect on commercial training and development. It also provides little financial reward to the commercial sector (not that it should) as the majority of the money in the cases I've seen gets sucked up by one or two 'consultants' or so called archaeologists (no offence intended to anyone on this forum I'm sure). It concerns me the amount the profession is forced to prostitute itself to such projects just to get the chance to work on a nice site or see a bit if the cash.
The profession could do with similar funding to help get it out of its current mess by investing in the future, rather than teaching pensions how to dig for a few weeks.
Anyway, probably moved away from the topic a little. My concern with what seems like an increasing emphasis on community projects in some areas/by some people is its potentially detrimental affect on commercial training and development. It also provides little financial reward to the commercial sector (not that it should) as the majority of the money in the cases I've seen gets sucked up by one or two 'consultants' or so called archaeologists (no offence intended to anyone on this forum I'm sure). It concerns me the amount the profession is forced to prostitute itself to such projects just to get the chance to work on a nice site or see a bit if the cash.
The profession could do with similar funding to help get it out of its current mess by investing in the future, rather than teaching pensions how to dig for a few weeks.