wire
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by wire on May 10, 2006 10:56:17 GMT 1
Hi Guys,
I just want to introduce myself. MY names Will im 23 and live in watford near london, i have just applied for a humanities access couse so i can then goto London UNI and study Archaeology & egytption.
i just want to know what advice you would give someone like me that has done no Archaeology at all, oh just to let you know is well i am giving up my career in a highly paid it job to do all this and its kinda scary having to start from the begining but also exciting to.
any advice would be gratefull
Thanks
Will
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fee
Junior Member
Posts: 80
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Post by fee on May 10, 2006 11:55:35 GMT 1
Hi Will, Are you the Will who's just posted on BAJR?? You're obviously passionate about studying archaeology so that's a good start. If you're interested in the fieldwork side of things then I'd say to get as much experience under your belt as you can during summer 'holidays' - YAT training digs are always a good start Most companies/units want you to have 6 months of fieldwork experience before they will consider you for a job, but it's a flexible benchmark as far as I can tell. If fieldwork's not for you then get a specialty; osteology, ceramics, museum/curatorial stuff, as then you have something to fall back on. With regards to going to uni; try to read some archaeology stuff this summer, Johnson's Archaeological Theory or Renfrew and Bahn's Theories Methods and Practice. They're both decent introductory books. I don't know whether thats going to be any help to you, but I'm sure I'll think, of something else as soon as I turn off the PC. Good luck with everything, Fee
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Post by Toby on May 10, 2006 12:06:44 GMT 1
Will,
I would echo what Fee has to say.
Make sure that you have plenty of fun whilst studying, though not too much (you do need to pass stuff). There are loads of people coming into archaeology after something else as a career/lifestyle, and there is lots of space for them to fit into...
You may find that you change your mind (perhaps more than once) during your studies - it is not a bad thing to do that, just don't panic.
As Fee said there are lots of different things that you can do. Even if you do not end up in fieldwork getting some good experience is well worth it. It is easy to see that people respect somebody who has actually done the raw data collection. It is also worthwhile having skills that adds to your employability as a digger - driving being the big one.
Experience is the big one when it comes to getting your first job, so if you have lots of good digging experience already it is a massive head start.
Cheers,
Toby
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wire
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by wire on May 10, 2006 12:16:59 GMT 1
Thanks for the advice so far guys.
Where is this YAT run at, also how much does it cost and do they use people that have no experince at all. im very interested in the egytption and japense history.
i would like to come along to some dig and meet people like minded and be shown how to do some basic thing.
Thanks
Will
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fee
Junior Member
Posts: 80
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Post by fee on May 10, 2006 12:25:55 GMT 1
Will, You can get all the info you need on this summer's YAT training dig at www.yorkarchaeology.co.uk Anyone can take part, as far as I know. At this precise moment though I can't make the website work...maybe you'll have better luck. (Or maybe Toby knows why it's not working?) Take care, Fee
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Post by Toby on May 10, 2006 12:34:17 GMT 1
Will, Have a look at the web pages - www.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/live2006/liveframeset2.htmWe accept trainees with any level of experience. So there are plenty of people with no experience, and plenty with quite a lot (some of which I would happily employ at a beginner level on commercial sites). The only restriction we have is on numbers (when it is full it is full) so that there are enough trainers to teach the trainees. Cost can be seen on the booking form (on the web pages). Yes it is more expensive than a lot of other training digs, but we are funded by the trainees - without them we would not run the dig. There is also a lot of post-excavation and setting up which has to be paid for. I do the costings and I can assure you that the project does not generate huge profits. Obviously there will not be any Egyptian or Japanese archaeology on the site (if there is I will buy a round in the pub for all on site at the time - no hiding stuff you lot!), but I think that the range of dates will be more than enough to cope work with. (sorry that this sounds like and advert) Cheers, Toby
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Post by Toby on May 10, 2006 12:38:08 GMT 1
We are doing some work on the computers at the moment so check them in a few hours.
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wire
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by wire on May 10, 2006 17:23:24 GMT 1
hi have just been reading a book aboutarchaeology and there is so much more envoloved then i knew about, for example the ways you can detect or find whats underneith the soil.
not understanding it all as of yet, but its kool and exciting to be learning something so new, its great, i just wanna go along to a dig and get shown how to do some basic stuff through out the next year so i have abit of a head start for uni.
oh and the book im reading is the archaeology course book by Jim Grant, sam Gorin and Neil fleming.
any other recommands for basic books
Thanks again guys
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Post by guitarmanrich on May 10, 2006 23:53:01 GMT 1
Hi Will - As far as understanding goes, the theory and book side has its place, but it's only through hands-on practical experience that you can get a full idea of what its all about. Things have a habit of sounding very neat in written form when the reality may not always be... The YAT training dig system has been up and running since 2001 now, and its perfectly catered for keen, enthuastic individuals like yourself with little experience. I came on the first as a 1-week trainee, and have been coming back (regardless of what anyone says!!) every summer since, and now (with no other archaeological experience other than YAT projects - I'm a medieval history not an archaeology student) I'd consider myself reasonably proficient at the basics (those that have had to work with me may disagree here...). I don't want this to sound like an advert, but I can't recommend the training dig enough: it'll help you get a feel for it much more than any book I could recommend. All the best - Rick
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Ness
Junior Member
Outside a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too dark to read!
Posts: 96
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Post by Ness on May 11, 2006 12:52:31 GMT 1
Hi Will!
Just to let you know, there are a group of us here who have done just that - given up 'decent' jobs/occupations/careers to follow this path. One or two of us have gone on to work for commercial units and others will continue with further study, then 'specialise'. You are not alone...
The 'scary' part is suddenly not having much money, I'll agree. However if it isn't for you in the long term, you have given it a shot (very important) and you have your other skills/qualifications to fall back on - an ideal position.
Look forward to meeting you in the months ahead. Take care Vanessa
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Post by Toby on May 11, 2006 13:06:07 GMT 1
Web pages are all up and sorted again.. So is e-mail!
There is a nice short reading list on the course details section on the website.
Cheers,
Toby
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wire
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by wire on May 12, 2006 0:53:39 GMT 1
Hi guys
Again thanks for the great advice, also i wanted to know how much it would cost me to do a 2 week course at Yat, the reaosn i ask this and it is funny really, i turned around to the company im contracted to (im a self employedIT tech) and said look i will be looking to leave soon cause im going back to college to study archaeology.(funny part coming) they have ow turned around and have given me a pay rise said i can work with them up till i start college and if possible work with them while i do college. i only do like a 30 hours week already, this is great, so i have taken them up on it, so i can now afford to get my teeth cut on archaeology at YAT. also get good readin books.
Who will be going to yet and where do you guys live, which area and when will you be going, cause i will try and work it out so i can come same time and meet a few of you so very nice people.
Thanks aain for your time
Peace
Will
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Post by guitarmanrich on May 12, 2006 14:11:55 GMT 1
Will - that's great news Toby's the boss, so he'll be round all summer (whether he likes it or not). Me and Fee will be there for most of it too - I can't really speak for anyone else. Hope to see you this summer! Rick
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Post by Pam on May 12, 2006 18:20:50 GMT 1
Hi Will,
I'm another one of those strange people who changed career to archaeology after doing Uni stuff and training digs with YAT. Not regreted it so far ! Less money and less security than in my previous job but it is worth it to be doing something I enjoy.
I'm not on the actual digging team this year but I will be around throughout the dig working on 'public' side, which is an aspect of archaeology that I'd like to specialise in as well as digging whenever/wherever opportunities arise !
Pam
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wire
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by wire on May 13, 2006 9:48:46 GMT 1
Hi Guys And now girls I just want to say thanks for a most excellent welcome to archaeology and im glad i found this forum, because you all have been very helpful and friendly. So thank you. Just while im here, if i was going to do a week or two up at YAT how much money should i plan to take with me and what kind of things do you guys get up to . Thanks Will
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