| ISSN 1357-4442 | Editor: Simon Denison |
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| LETTERS |
From Mr Campbell Wood
Sir: I cannot help agreeing with Peter Huggins that the role of the amateur is becoming less important by the year (`Struggling amateurs in need of support', April).
We may have certain advantages over the professionals, but these are mainly discounted nowadays in the need to excavate a site quickly in advance of development. Other forms of excavation are frowned upon unless a genuine reason can be shown for it, for example if a site is under threat.
However, an excavation should not be undertaken unless modern scientific methods are used. Just as we look back with horror at the barrow-diggers of yesteryear, so methods of excavation of only a few years ago are now considered outdated. So costly is the process of modern excavation that no amateur society can hope to do it justice without professional input and finance. Fieldwork and surveying, however, are ideal activities for local societies.
Yours faithfully,
CAMPBELL WOOD
Chairman
Stafford & Mid-Staffs Archaeological Society
Stoke-on-Trent
19 April
From Mrs Anne Screeton
Sir: Despite all efforts, we at the York Excavation Group, founded 26 years ago, have failed to attract new members, and are now at the stage where very few members can excavate anymore. This will probably be the last year of the group's existence.
Yours sincerely,
ANNE SCREETON
Chairman, YEG
York
23 April
From Mr Andrew Sewell
Sir: Peter Huggins clearly thinks that archaeology is in essence excavation. But there is great scope for the amateur in `surface archaeology', that is, in observing the work (for instance) of those laying drains or building houses, or of farmers. As time goes on, and one year can be compared with another, a picture can be built up of the past pattern of occupation.
Yours faithfully,
ANDREW SEWELL
Marlborough
6 May
From Mrs Catherine Petts
Sir: If Peter Huggins wants to recruit new members he must market his society. Does his society have an eye-catching poster, and is it displayed widely? Has he considered running a local youth group? Does he have a leaflet about the society, giving details of activities and how to become a member? Has he contacted tutors of appropriate evening classes, or any schools in his area that teach archaeology? Does he send press releases (and pictures) to the local press and radio?
If amateur societies have difficulties recruiting members, they usually have only themselves to blame.
Yours faithfully,
CATHERINE PETTS
Reading
25 April
From Mr Eric Houlder
Sir: I was surprised to read Peter Huggins's article, as I was under the impression that things have not seemed so bright for amateur archaeology since the early 1960s.
The Pontefract and District Archaeological Society has a constant influx of younger people, including graduate and undergraduate archaeologists. These are the hard core of our excavating team. Other youngsters are still in secondary school.
Recent developments in local government finance mean that amateurs will gradually assume their former role of the investigators of chance discoveries. Some societies are already tendering for excavation contracts; and although the P&DAS is not quite ready for this role, it soon will be.
However, like other societies we do have a majority of elderly people, but this group actually subsidises the active people of all ages simply by paying subscriptions, and by going on the various excursions, which make a profit. We have top people speaking to us too.
So things look quite bright for this society. My advice to other groups which wish to emulate would be to develop all activities, especially social ones like excursions. Build up links with local university archaeology departments. Encourage local professionals to join, and to direct work. Train promising youngsters in the latest techniques. Bring in outside experts to run dayschools. The rest will follow.
Yours sincerely,
ERIC HOULDER
Field Director, P&DAS
Pontefract
11 April
From Mrs Jayne Lawes
Sir: I agree with Mr Huggins, we desperately need to get younger people involved, so there will be a future for amateur societies. However, young people are under great pressure to perform well at school, and face financial pressures at college, making it difficult for them to have the time to be involved in local societies.
I was once a professional archaeologist, and I am convinced there is a generation out there of ex-archaeologists, like me, who are still interested in the subject. These are the sort of people amateur societies need, and I encourage such people to get involved: they may find there is more going on than they think.
Yours faithfully,
JAYNE LEWIS
Director of Excavations
Bath and Camerton Archaeology Society
Bath
28 April
From Mr Andrew Selkirk
Sir: Younger members aside, it is still possible to recruit the 40-year-olds. Can I offer some advice?
1. Don't do field walking. It's boring.
2. Do dig. It's exciting!
3. Don't have a children's section. If you trivialise archaeology,
you won't recruit many 40-year-olds.
4. Treat the extra-mural department as your competitors. Try to recruit their students.
Offer them the `projects' or `dissertations' they are now supposed to carry out.
5. Get on with your own work, and ask for advice from your local
unit only when you need it.
6. Kick your county archaeological society,
which is probably moribund, into providing you with the help you
deserve.
7. Don't tug your forelock.
Yours faithfully,
ANDREW SELKIRK
London NW3
2 May
From Mr Mick Aston
Sir: It is time we dropped the terms `amateur' and `professional' in archaeology. There is really only archaeology done well or done badly, and this does not depend on whether people are paid or not.
Secondly, I am not sure the situation with part-time archaeologists is any worse than it has been for some time. There have never been large numbers of active people doing first-rate archaeology at any time. But everywhere there are still small numbers doing high-quality work. What is needed is a way to provide them with backup facilities.
Yours faithfully,
MICK ASTON
Reader in Archaeology
University of Bristol
2 May
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