18th July 2011, 10:18 AM
add this to the mix.
Where it seems that even Mary Beard does not quite understand the nuance of commercial development archaeology
Rather than point and sigh, I would once again reiterate what has been said above. Why do people not understand? and I would seriously decry teh comment about no vacancies for amateur diggers. there is plenty, but professionals are less likely to spend weekend working with a society after spending a week in an ole --- though to be fair, community archaeology fills taht gap AND those commercials that have come on some of my weekend digs have a great laugh, away from pressures and deadlines.
PErhaps we do have to explain ourselves in a clear way, rather than grumble that no one understands us like a sulky teenager?
Where it seems that even Mary Beard does not quite understand the nuance of commercial development archaeology
Quote:In some senses, the professionalisation has been a very good thing (for a start it has enabled archaeologists to react quickly to building works etc, and to get in there with 5 days to spare and look at what was about to be destroyed). In another sense it has pushed the amateur to the margins. It is no coincidence that the rise of metal deteting has gone hand in hand with the rise of the professionalisation of the discipline. As there have been "no vacancies" for amateur diggers, those who would have been filling the Sunday cohorts of excavators have taken to private enterprise and to the glamour of the detector.
I am not usually an advocate of the Big Society, but maybe getting the "amateurs" back on board will help, rather than hinder, archaeology.
Rather than point and sigh, I would once again reiterate what has been said above. Why do people not understand? and I would seriously decry teh comment about no vacancies for amateur diggers. there is plenty, but professionals are less likely to spend weekend working with a society after spending a week in an ole --- though to be fair, community archaeology fills taht gap AND those commercials that have come on some of my weekend digs have a great laugh, away from pressures and deadlines.
PErhaps we do have to explain ourselves in a clear way, rather than grumble that no one understands us like a sulky teenager?