The Role of the Amateur in Archaeology
In the beginning, there were no professionals!
All modern developments in archaeology are based on the dedicated application of intelligence and considerable physical energy, towards the solution of questions posed by observant and analytical amateur antiquaries in the past.
Without these foundation activities, the studies of geologists and historians would not have been interpreted to create the current body of knowledge of our human past.
Now that there are well-established courses and studies in universities for maintaining a flow of qualified archaeologists and a grudging commercial recognition that their work should be funded, a 'profession' has been created which, in the way of all professions, seeks to restrict activities in archaeology to those same professionals and deny a valid role to the amateur.
One professional view is that the amateur is ill-equipped by training and facilities to properly conduct a dig, and that sites not presently 'at risk' should remain undisturbed for the attention of future professional archaeologists. Also, that present (professional) knowledge would not be expanded by amateur digs.
This is a shortsighted view, no doubt conditioned by the present shortage of funded work for the professionals, but one which could inhibit the future work of these same professionals. There are many eminently qualified amateurs who are only able to devote a limited time to archaeology because of other commitments and who do not need commercial sponsorship for their digs, and who may bring length of experience and specific skills to their archaeology. It is possible to name individuals who, despite their amateur status, are experts in specific fields of archaeology. Should these amateurs be denied the opportunity to expand their own and public knowledge?
If there are no amateur digs, there will be fewer people 'actively' involved in local archaeology groups and, as some members of these groups undertake professional training after their initial amateur experiences, the ranks of the professionals will be lessened in the future - and reduced by the loss of experts who have learned their skills the 'hard way', bringing necessary maturity to enhance the graduate body.
The local groups are repositories of knowledge about a specific area and may be called upon to provide information and commentary by many individuals and bodies. They need to be able to satisfy the various interests of their members. Some will be content simply to enjoy visits, lectures, and demonstrations, but others have the desire to learn about the local past through 'hands-on' experience which can only be obtained through participation in a dig. Of course, such experience can be obtained as a 'volunteer' on a professional dig, where the exploitation of amateurs has been welcomed and valued as relief for the professionals and of economic importance when sites have a limited working time. But attendance at such sites may be well away from the local group area and may not add specific knowledge to enhance the local pool.
It should be feasible for local groups to undertake substantial digs on secure sites, subject to supervision by trained archaeologists - who may be amateur members of the group - and under the general oversight of the County Archaeologist. Such digs will provide an opportunity to advance local knowledge, which should improve public attitudes towards conservation and archaeology in general. The work might possibly discover unique information that would establish a better understanding of the occupation of the area. It would certainly improve the practical skills and knowledge of those taking part, which will encourage others' interest, e.g. local schools and historical and other societies, and in general would be a 'good thing' for archaeology.
The amateur should be positively encouraged by the professional, if only because there are more amateurs than professionals and their democratic strength can provide effective support for the professionals when public and commercial bodies have to be canvassed. The amateur provides many a student for further education courses tutored by the professionals, so the individual professional benefits by encouraging the amateur. More importantly, the amateur provides a collective pool of experience and knowledge - sometimes expertise - which it would be stupid to ignore, and of course also provides a labor force that can be drawn upon in emergencies at minimal cost. We need each other for the benefit of archaeology.
Peter Dawson,
Lower Medway Arch. Research Group.
