15th August 2005, 04:51 PM
Just wanted to know guys if any of you goodly folk have taken a break from archaeology for a period of years to either have kids or fancied something non archaeological for a while. Money aside, did you find it easy to return to the proffession or did you find that after a coupla years away you lose pace with archaeology or employers were unwilling to take you back at the same grade. Im in that position at the mo and would be really glad to hear from Project Officers and Mangers as thats my current grade but hey anybodys views and experiences would be most welcome. Also how do you guys cope with living and working away from husbands and wives for such lengths of time are they supportive or do you like me on occasion feel pangs of guilt about the life we as archaeologist put our partners through. Cheers thanks a lot.
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16th August 2005, 02:52 PM
My last wife soon decided that one for me.She had the locks changed while I was away diggin with Oxford. Ho Hum. Weeks after the divorce papers arrived, I landed a long contract with silly amounts of money.On a more serious note though, I have mates who left years ago in disgust. Although they miss their jobs, they are now so embedded in the world of comfy incomes and, clean hands/dry clothes etc they would`nt come back if their lives depended on it.....
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17th August 2005, 02:32 AM
Right again Troll mate, if I joined the "circuit" I'd some become NFA. My wife just would'nt put up with it!
She has the strange idea that I'd be drinking every night, chasing young ladies and generally enjoying myself, as if!!
deep
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31st August 2005, 02:04 PM
I personally would rather have an archaeological career than wife and kids. Their expensive!
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9th September 2005, 06:59 PM
I know some folks who left the world of archaeology hoping to go on to better things...only to come back not too long after leaving cos they missed it so much.
Don't know if i could ever leave it...i don't seem to think that i'm good at anything else. Don't think i'd enjoy anything else either..
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9th September 2005, 09:49 PM
returned to archaeologey after 12 years after digging before uni. The days when you could still have 3 pints before returning to an afernoon digging!!! When I came back I trained in survey. Had a great time and went to lots of foreign projects in Eastern Europe, Near East and Ireland. All paid for. But the killer has been working in the U.K once you have a wife and child to support. I love archaeology but the low pay is the ruin of it. My wife once she understood this thinks all British archaeologists are mad!!! and stupid for excepting low wages. The status of archaeolgists in other countries is higher in regards to pay. Yes there are worse jobs and lower pay but this is a job in the main worked by people with degrees. You will have to show why your family will have to do without by working in it on your return. I love the job and archaeology but we have undermind ourselfs and archaeolgy by this failure to pay correct wage levels.
