tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174756573570334952.post4761546974629734916..comments2024-03-27T04:46:33.198-07:00Comments on Portable Antiquity Collecting and Heritage Issues: TV Antiquities Roadshow: Archaeological CatastrophePaul Barfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10443302899233809948noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174756573570334952.post-84540944670245481782010-12-17T12:50:07.337-08:002010-12-17T12:50:07.337-08:00Vindolanda archaeologists or volunteers?
Damien,...Vindolanda archaeologists or volunteers? <br /><br />Damien, I think you too missed the point about the nature of this proposed series created to showcase what the PAS does. It was that I was hoping would be the topic of discussion.Paul Barfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10443302899233809948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174756573570334952.post-75015510326731201272010-12-16T22:05:30.761-08:002010-12-16T22:05:30.761-08:00Drumax: I understand what you mean by "the th...Drumax: I understand what you mean by "the thrill of discovery;" it is something that both archaeologists, field school students, and interested amateurs can routinely feel when working together on a controlled excavation. <br /><br />There is a big difference, however, between a detectorist digging up something themselves, with no training in, and minimal consern for, the intricasies of context/positioning recording (even if the find and general provenience is then reported to a local archaeological authority), and the work of an archaeological team. <br /><br />The "thrill" we often feel is precisely because we know that what we've found is at the very least well-documented, photographed, placed onto excavation maps etc. It is this information that lets us place the discovery into a bigger picture; takes it beyond being a mere 'thing,' placing it into a sequence of events. This holds whether we're excavating a burial, a rare artifact, or even something more "mundane" (post-holes in a floor). The best museums and outreach programs will ALWAYS emphasize the object's place in the bigger picture of a site...making appreciation of its age or rarity all the more meaningfull. <br /><br />I have personally worked on excavations as a volunteer, field school undergrad, graduate student teaching assistant and member of professional "contract archaeology" teams. The thrill has only increased for me because my training has increased, along with my knowledge of how to recognize good vs. bad excavations vs. the whole-sale damage that looting can do. <br /><br />Yes, many important sites around the world have first come to professional attention due to isolated finds and/or looting activity being reported by responsible locals, and this is certainly very praiseworthy. However, the biggest "thrill" comes at the end when the combined efforts of a large team in the field, lab, and museum can put together multiple strands of evidence into a coherent picture, and then plan future work. There are many world-wide options to volunteer on summer digs (e.g. Earthwatch Volunteers), and I highly recommend it. <br /><br />To close, and supplement Paul's comment, the PROCESS and end RESULT of these efforts, should always be the goal of archaeologst-led outreach, as PAS claims to be about. Whenever the intended viewers of an archaeology-themed program or exhibit leave without this understand, the presentation itself should be reevaluated.Damien Hufferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808464886332759165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174756573570334952.post-30564229088888540292010-12-16T21:02:47.430-08:002010-12-16T21:02:47.430-08:00I think you rather miss the point.
It is of cour...I think you rather miss the point. <br /><br />It is of course precisely the type of views you espouse here that the PAS should be addressing in all of its outreach, what is the difference between thrill (and cash) seeking and what the discipline of archaeology is attempting to do?Paul Barfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10443302899233809948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8174756573570334952.post-72354404110015620632010-12-16T15:52:33.074-08:002010-12-16T15:52:33.074-08:00Mr. Barford, I have one last honest question. Do a...Mr. Barford, I have one last honest question. Do archeologists not derive some thrill in the hunt to uncover important historical sites? Reading accounts of the Archeologists who work excavating Vindolanda, they repeatedly talk about the excitement they feel when they make a new discovery, the thrill they feel being the first person to see something they find in more than a thousand years. Is this not a thrilling thing for them? Is it wrong for people to seek the same thrills, especially when all they find is reported or even working with archeologist? Or is the fact that some who do this loot enough for you to deny all people this pleasure? Or are only archeologists entitled to this thrill?<br /><br />So many important finds have been made by people like this or just farmers hitting something as they plow. I understand you seem to oppose people who treasure hunt (which is expressed with ridicule, as seems to be your way, of that chap in his track suit) but, these days, they along with the people who just stumble upon these sites, seem like the only people actually making such discoveries. When they report them of course. Then archeologists move in and study the site once the work of discovering it is done. Is it not true that many important discoveries these days in the field of archeology are made by amateurs?<br /><br />Simply because a person derives a thrill trying to find such things, is that wrong? Are these NOT treasures and arent those archeologist who actually attempt to find these sites, in essence, cultural and historical treasure hunters? Are not archeologists in that field because they have a passion for history and gain pleasure and yes, a thrill, by uncovering and studying these treasures?Charles the Boldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15351492304300210017noreply@blogger.com