Sponsored by Towergate,
the CIFA Conference begins today.
400 archaeological professionals
and early career entrants, all looking to develop their knowledge on policy and
practice issues, and enhance their skills.
If like me, you’re not there yet, I guess, you won’t be going!
Big focus on the potential
divisions between community and professional archaeology – seem to remember discussing
this back in the late 1980’s. The ‘delicate
relationship' between the professional and the amateur. In the words of Hayley
Roberts of Bournemouth University, “The Profession has taken a shine to
standards and regulations whilst Community Archaeology has eloped with the Heritage
Lottery Fund and is increasingly attracted to wellbeing.” [I'm not quite sure what the 'wellbeing' bit means].
I know that professional
archaeologists have believed for a long time that the activity of archaeology should
be theirs and theirs alone to manage and distribute as they see fit. And I get that – professional archaeologists
need to make a living and people generally need to view the activities of
archaeologists as professional, with standards and with financial
implications. However, the armies of
retired, financially stable, educated and experienced individuals now living
amongst us – many of whom have ‘done their family tree’, joined / set up a
local history society, become interested in learning more about what is beneath
their feet – is a resource which should not be seen as annoying or interfering –
and should not be annoying or interfering!
Sneering at projects and
their instigators just because they are Heritage Lottery funded? I am not surprised that it goes on, but I am
disappointed!
Brighten up your day
with a look at Digventures (http://digventures.com/)
– “a social business at the forefront of culture, technology and
entrepreneurship, committed to raising seed capital and increasing
participation for sustainable archaeology and heritage projects worldwide.
Our innovative model
works to connect heritage sector managers and archaeologists with a worldwide
crowd of interested and actively engaged participants, creating a platform for
the public to financially support interesting projects as well as to join in,
learn new skills and contribute to internationally important research. As an
Institute for Archaeologists Registered Organisation and the first-ever IfA
Accredited Field School, our work and opportunities are quality-assured at the top
of the industry standard.
Over the last two years
we have raised over £65K in seed funding from a globally networked crowd of
supporters – money that has gone on to leverage four times that amount for our
project partners in match funding. Our motto – archaeology in your hands – is
what joins the dots between our many different projects.”
Great news! Hopefully
the larger archaeological businesses are taking note and seeing that their very
existence could depend upon full community involvement - helping the community
groups by providing advice, resource, pre-excavation, during excavation and
post-excavation. After all, I doubt
there is a professional archaeologists anywhere on a payroll who entered the
arena for reasons other than the discovery, recording, preserving and promoting
or our heritage – though with the proviso that they are entitled to decent pay
and working conditions.
What else of the
conference? Great to see so many
students giving papers and taking part.
Shows that at least the ‘academic’ / ‘professional’ relationship appears
to be strong. There are some great
sounding papers about specific projects, new techniques, applying better old
techniques.
Perhaps I’ll stop now,
but if you’re not there, and not going, have a look at the programme at: http://www.archaeologists.net/sites/default/files/node-files/CIfA2015-programme-FINAL-WEB.pdf
Call me to discuss your
insurance needs on 0208 2550617 / 07768 865983
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